A device for measuring the 
refractive index of a flat plate type transparent medium comprises a cassette, a 
frosted glass screen, a thin 
frosted glass screen, a CCD (
charge coupled device) camera, a precision translation stage and a platform lining plate. The platform lining plate is arranged in the cassette, a 
semiconductor laser device, the 
frosted glass screen, a converging lens and the precision translation stage are mounted on the platform lining plate, the thin frosted glass screen and the 
CCD camera are mounted on the precision translation stage and synchronously move along with the precision translation stage, the 
semiconductor laser device, the frosted glass screen, the converging lens, the thin frosted glass screen and the 
CCD camera are sequentially and coaxially arranged in the cassette, and a shading cover is arranged on the cassette. A method for measuring the 
refractive index of the flat plate type transparent medium by the aid of the device includes that the flat plate type medium to be measured is placed between the converging lens and the precision translation stage, the 
diameter of a circular 
light spot on the thin frosted glass screen can be changed before and after the medium to be tested is placed between the converging lens and the precision translation stage, the 
refractive index of the medium can be obtained on the basis of calibration if only the 
diameter of the 
light spot is known after the medium to be measured is placed between the converging lens and the precision translation stage, and corresponding images of the circular 
light spot are acquired and measured by the computer in real time via the 
CCD camera. The method is applicable to measuring refractive indexes of 
solid and liquid media, operation is simple and convenient, measured data are fewer, a measurement range is unlimited, and the method and the device can be used for monitoring the refractive indexes in real time.