The invention relates to a method of treating optic nerve damage, ophthalmic ischemia or ophthalmic reperfusion injury including the step of administering an effective amount of a peptide comprising the sequence: GlyArgArgAlaAlaProGlyArgAibGlyGly (SEQ ID NO:1) or the sequence GlyArgArgAlaAlaProGlyArgAibGlyGly-HN2 (SEQ ID NO:2) to a subject in need thereof.