PURPOSE: To constitute the titled device so that optical glass data within some range are outputted automatically in a classified state in a prescribed sequence from a target value, by coupling an external storage device having optical glass retrieval program information, to an existing computer.

CONSTITUTION: When a target value of an optical glass characteristic being an object is inputted to a CPU 1 by an input means 2, an allowable range of a shift from the target value is set. Subsequently, from many optical glass data, the data contained in its range is extracted, and also, with respect to each its extracted optical glass data, a distance from the target value is calculated, and arranged, for instance, in order of a small distance or in order of a large distance by a sorting means 9. Next, its state is displayed on an output means 3, and from in the displayed data, a desired one can be selected easily. When the target value for showing a characteristic of optical glass is inputted, it is retrieved automatically, therefore, the result of retrieval can be obtained quickly and exactly.