Objective To observe the affection of optic nerve under acute ocular hypertension and the effect of protection of bFGF on optic nerve. Methods BSS was perfused into anterior chamber of rabbits to increase the intraocular pressure to cause retinal ischemia. A computer image analysis system was used to count the optic nerve axons.Eyes were intravitreally injected with bFGF and then the number of optic nerve axons of the normal rabbits,and hypertension with and without bFGE treatment groups were counted respectively. Results The number of optic nerve axons in ocular hypertension eyes was less than the normal eyes(P=0.00003).The bFGF treated eyes had more optic nerve axons than the controls(P=0.0078). Conclusions The acute ocular hypertension may cause the loss of the nerve axons,and bFGF may be effective in protecting optic nerve in acute ocular hypertension. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,2000,16:94-96)