Astrocytes represent the earliest glial population in the embryonic optic nerve, contributing critically to retinal angiogenesis and formation of brain-retinal-barrier (BRB). Despite of many developmental and clinical implications of astrocytes, answers to some of the most fundamental questions of this unique type of glial cells remain elusive. This review provides an overview of the current knowledge about the origination, proliferation and differentiation of astrocytes, their journey from the optic nerve towards the neuroretina, and their involvement in physiological and pathological development of the visual system. Developmental Dynamics, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.