AIM: To explore the effect of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) on retinal ganglion cell (RGC)-5 induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). METHODS: After cell adherence, RGC-5 culture medium was changed to contain different concentrations of H2O2 from 50 to 150 μmol/L at four time points (0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2h) to select the concentration and time point for H2O2 induced model. Two different ways of interventions for injured RGC-5 cells respectively were CNTF as an addition in the culture medium or recombinant lentiviral plasmid carrying CNTF gene transfecting bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) for co-culture with RGC-5. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, H2O2 led to RGC-5 death closely associated with concentrations and action time of H2O2 and we chose 125 μmol/L and 2h to establish the H2O2-induced model. While CNTF inhibited the loss of RGC-5 cells obviously with a dose-dependent survival rate. Nevertheless two administration routes had different survival rate yet higher rate in recombinant lentiviral plasmid group but there were no statistically significant differences. CONCLUSION: Both the two administration routes of CNTF have effects on RGC-5 cells induced by H2O2. If their own advantages were combined, there may be a better administration route.