Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are mesenchymal stem cells in adipose tissue. ADSCs may differentiate into cells and tissues of different embryonic germ layers under specific inducing conditions. Previous studies have demonstrated that Schwann cells transformed from ADSCs can express nerve growth factors, generate nerve fibers and promote axonal regeneration in models of peripheral nerve injury. Stem cell transplantation is one of the potential techniques for the treatment of retinal ganglion cell injury. The present study developed an optic nerve crush injury rat model to investigate the therapeutic effect of fat stem cell transplantation on optic nerve injured rats. Retinal morphological changes were observed on day 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 following optic nerve injury. It was determined that the number of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) decreased with time following optic nerve injury; however, the number of RGCs in the stem cell transplantation group was higher compared with the buffer control group. The results of reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction also demonstrated that the growth associated protein 43 mRNA expression level of the stem cell transplantation group was higher compared with the buffer control group. Apoptosis tests demonstrated that the stem cell transplantation group was able to resist the apoptosis of retinal cells. The present study demonstrated that in vivo transplantation of ADSCs can improve the survival rate of RGCs in rats with optic nerve injury and to resist the apoptosis of retinal cells.