Objective To study effects of exogenous retinoic acid (RA) on the growth of human scleral fibroblasts (HSF) and the mRNA level of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and its tissue inhibitor (TIMP-2). Methods HSF of 5-7 passages were quantitated after being treated with RA at concentrations of 10-10 mol/L, 10-9 mol/L,10-8 mol/L, 10-7 mol/L, 10-6 mol/L, respectively for 6 days. The mRNA level of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 was measured by Real-time PCR followd by analysis using one-way ANOVA. Results The growth of HSF was significantly inhibited after 6 days of treatment with at least 10-9 mol/L of RA (P<0.05). The reduction in number of HSF was positively correlated to the RA concentrations used. The mRNA level of MMP-2 was increased when the concentration of RA > 10-8 mol/L. However, there was not significantly different between RA treated and non-RA treated HSF (P>0.05). The mRNA level of TIMP-2 decreased (P<0.05) in HSF treated with RA at concentration ≥10-9 mol/L. Conclusion RA could inhibit the growth of HSF cells and downregulate the mRNA level of TIMP-2, probably resulting in scleral remodeling.