Through different mouse models of optic neuropathies (traumatic optic nerve injury and glaucoma), Yang et al. (2016) showed that manipulation of the UPRER pathway by inhibiting eIF2-CHOP and activating XBP1 also promoted RGC soma and axons survival and even preserved visual function (Yang et al., 2016; Hurley et al., 2022). The gene discussed is DDIT3; the disease is glaucoma.