BDNF and glaucoma: 15, 16 In addition, BMD provides neuroprotective effects in various animal models of optic neuropathy including experimental glaucoma, ischemia, oxidative stress and optic nerve injury.17, 18, 19 BMD may exert its neuroprotective effects via the upregulation of neurotrophic factors, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)20 and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF),21, 22 in RGCs.