The invention relates to the use of angiogenic crystallin proteins to promote angiogenesis, wound healing and/or endothelial cell migration. Alpha A crystallin and βB2 crystallin have particular application in these methods. The crystallins will usually be in monomeric form. Typically, truncated form(s) of βB2 crystallin protein are utilized as can be prepared by partial hydrolysis of the protein by a protease enzyme such as elastase I. Methods for the purification of crystallin proteins from eye tissue are also described.