Optic nerve protection, regeneration, and repair in the 21t century: LVIII Edward Jackon Memorial lecture

PURPOE: To preent the current tatu and clinical implication of optic nerve protection, repair, and regeneration after experimental injury in mammal, including nonhuman primate. DEIGN: Optic nerve and neuro-ophthalmology experimental tudy review. METHOD: ynthei of experimental data regarding experimental tudie of optic nerve protection, repair, and regeneration. REULT: Under certain condition, mammalian retinal ganglion cell can be prevented from dying depite injury to the cell bodie or their axon, injured mammalian retinal ganglion cell whoe axon have degenerated can be induced to extend new axon, and regenerating axon can reach their correct target in the central nervou ytem. In addition, tem cell can be induced to become retinal ganglion cell. CONCLUION: It may oon be poible to preerve and retore viion in peron whoe ight i threatened or ha been lot from dieae or damage to the optic nerve.