AIM: To observe the characteristics of visual electrophysiological activity in normal young rhesus monkeys in anesthesia state, so as to provide more effective checking methods and clinical reference for the establishment of various diseases rhesus animal model. METHODS: Totally 16 healthy rhesus monkeys (32 eyes), 36 to 48-month-old, were selected. Under general anesthesia achieved by intramuscular injection of ketamine, visual electrophysiology instrument(ROLAND CONSULT Co., Ltd) was applied for the detection of flash electroretinogram(f-ERG), and measured values were recorded under different stimulus intensity; The values of f-ERG in normal human adolescents were gained by the same method, then the data were compared and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The result of f-ERG showed that, compared with the same age of human, the incubation period of ERG in rhesus monkey was shortened and the amplitude was also reduced under different stimulation intensity and stimulation method in dark adaptation state, while in light adaptation the amplitude of b-wave had no significant difference compared with that of human. CONCLUSION: This study provides the optimal stimulation conditions and normal reference range of f-ERG in normal rhesus monkeys. Comprehensive analysis shows that the ERG responses of rhesus monkeys was weaker than normal humans in dark adaptation state, while it has no significant difference in light adaptation state. It reminds us that when we examine the various ophthalmological diseases of rhesus animal model, we should be more careful about the normal reference value scope of ERG.