Disclosed is the use of an effective amount of a peptide comprising the sequence GRRAAPGRAGG or GRRAAPGRAGG-NH2 in the manufacture of a medicament for treating or preventing (i) optic nerve damage (ii) an ophthalmic reperfusion injury or (iii) ophthalmic ischemia in an eye of a subject in need thereof. Also disclosed is a method of treating or preventing optic nerve damage, an ophthalmic reperfusion injury or ophthalmic ischemia in a non-human subject comprising administering comprising administering an effective amount of a peptide comprising the sequence GRRAAPGRAGG or GRRAAPGRAGG-NH2 to an eye of a subject.