Intravitreal treatment of SRTG-CNTF (0.5 μg) induced RGC axon growth following ONC. Saline, CNTF (0.5 μg), and RTG-CNTF (0.5 μg) groups showed minimal axon regrowth 2 weeks post-ONC (A–C). SRTG-CNTF (0.5 μg) showed robust RGC axon growth 2 weeks post-lesion (D). The injury site was distinguished using dark field microscopy (E–H). Triple (vertical) asterisks represent the ONC site. Average pixel intensity (mean ± S.E.M.) of GAP-43 stain present past the lesion site following intravitreal injection of saline, CNTF (0.5 μg), RTG-CNTF (0.5 μg), and SRTG-CNTF (0.5 μg) at 1 week post-ONC (I) and 2 weeks post-ONC (J). Scale bar = 200 μm. *p < 0.05.