AIM: To study the feasibility of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) as a vector to transfer the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene as a target gene into rabbit retina. METHODS: Intravitreal injection of rAAV-gfp was performed in either eye for each rabbit with the other eye taken as control. At the 3rd, 7th, and 14th day after injection, the eyeballs were removed, and the retinas were flat-mounted on glass slides to inspect the retinal fluorescence, respectively. RESULTS: After intravitreal injection of rAAV-gfp, the presence of fluorescent spots in the cytoplasm of retinal cells indicated that GFP gene was efficiently transferred and expressed in the rabbit retina. CONCLUSION: Recombinant adeno-associated virus is a reliable and simple vector for transferring target gene, e.g., GFP gene, to the retina.