INTRODUCTION:  Cataract associated blindness is a major cause of morbidity in developing countries.  Oxidative stress leads to lipid peroxidation. One such product, malondialdehyde (MDA).Its role in cataractogenesis is due to its cross linking ability.  Oxidative damage to the lens most likely arises as a consequence of an impaired antioxidant defence system, due to increased generation of ROS both by age and diabetes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The level of MDA & Glycosylated hemoglobin was measured in 30 randomly selected senile diabetic and 30 senile non diabetic cataract patients  and matched against 30 suitable controls.

RESULTS: The study found statistically significant increased levels of MDA in senile diabetic cataract patients (p<0.0001) and increased Glycated hemoglobin in senile diabetic cataract patients (p<0.0001).

CONCLUSION: The present study concluded that oxidative stress plays role in formation of cataract in diabetics.