AIM: To comprehensively investigate the current state of research on the application of neurotrophic factors in glaucoma therapy and identify potential research hotspots. METHODS: On September 30, 2023, a literature search was conducted on Scopus using specific keywords related to neurotrophic factors and glaucoma. Of the 918 articles retrieved, 780 met the inclusion criteria. These articles were subsequently analyzed and visualized using Google Sheets, Biblioshiny 3.1, and VosViewer 1.6.18. RESULTS: A total of 780 studies published between 1989 and 2023 were included, and the global publication count showed an upward trend through 2023 (projected to continue rising by 2030). The United States, China, Japan, Italy, and Australia were the most significant contributors to the publication output. Research in this field had been published in 313 journals, spanning categories such as pharmacology and drug development, ophthalmology, genetics and gene therapy, and neuroscience. A total of 2622 authors had contributed to these studies, with the most prolific author publishing 14 articles. The focus of research in this field had evolved sequentially from "glutamate" to "CNTF" and "GDNF", and finally to "optic nerve injury". Co-occurrence analysis identified five clusters: glaucoma and ocular health, neuroinflammation in ophthalmology, neuroprotection in ophthalmology, ocular drug delivery, and stem cell therapy. Several areas in this field require further exploration, including the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying glaucoma, ocular drug delivery systems, and the clinical value of specific neurotrophic factors. CONCLUSION: This study systematically reviews global research trends on neurotrophic factors in glaucoma therapy, clarifying the current research status and future directions.