Optic Nerve transection is a widely used model of adult CNS injury. This model is ideal for performing a number of experimental manipulations that target the retina globally or directly target the injured neuronal population of retinal ganglion cells.
D'Onofrio, P. M., Magharious, M. M., Koeberle, P. D. Methods for Experimental Manipulations after Optic Nerve Transection in the Mammalian CNS. J. Vis. Exp. (51), e2261, doi:10.3791/2261 (2011).