Excessive HIF-α activation may be associated with the activation of the cell death program through p53, which has been suggested to be a transcriptional activator of neuronal apoptosis in glaucoma.5 This is consistent with our results, as we showed a significant increase in Hif-1α and Hif-2α transcripts concurrent with the degeneration of RGCs and axons and impaired anterograde axonal transport after 4 weeks of IOP elevation. This evidence concerns the gene EPAS1 and glaucoma.