AIM: To evaluate the neuroprotective effects of a Chinese herbal drug, erigeron breviscapus (vant) hand-mass (EBHM), on glaucoma patients with controlled intraocular pressure (IOP) after surgical and/or medical therapies.METHODS: A total of 99 primary glaucoma patients (113 eyes) with medically or surgically controlled IOP were given orally either EBHM or placebo for 6 mo and then evaluated in a multi-center, prospective, randomized and double masked clinical trial by quantifying the visual field changes using visual field defect scoring (VFDS).RESULTS: After 2, 4, 6 mo of treatment, the VFDS in EBHM Group (66 eyes/55 patients) decreased by 0.44±1.60, 1.27±2.16 and 1.42±2.37 respectively, indicating a time-dependent improvement of visual field upon EBHM treatment, whereas the VFDS in Placebo Control Group (47 eyes/47 patients) decreased by -0.02±1.5, 0.68±1.73 and 0.40±1.57 respectively. Statistically, the differences in VFDS between the two groups were significant (P＜0.05) at 2 and 4mo, and highly significant at 6mo of treatment (P =0.007). The average IOP in both groups was 15mmHg (range 8-18mmHg) during the period of the study (P＞0.05). No serious side effects were reported in glaucoma patients on EBHM.CONCLUSION: EBHM appeared to be safe and effective in neuroprotection for patients with glaucoma. More studies are needed to determine the safety and effectiveness of longer-term EBHM treatment.