To investigate whether caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) prevents sodium-selenite-induced cataract. Department of Ophthalmology and Biochemistry, Inonu University Medical Faculty, Turgut Ozal Medical Center, Research Hospital, Malatya, Turkey. Sixty Sprague-Dawley rat litters were randomized into 3 groups. In Group 1 (n = 18), sodium selenite (30 nmol/g body weight) was injected subcutaneously on postpartum day 10. In Group 2 (n = 22), subcutaneous CAPE (15 micromol/kg) and sodium selenite (30 nmol/g body weight) were injected on postpartum day 10. The CAPE dose was continued subcutaneously for 3 days after the initial injection. Only subcutaneous saline was injected in Group 3 (control, n = 20). The development of cataract was assessed weekly, and its density was graded by slitlamp biomicroscopy and photography. Removed rat lenses were analyzed for glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA, marker of lipid peroxidation). Group 2 rats had clear lenses or minor cataract. All Group 1 rats developed more severe cataract or complete opacification. The between-group difference was statistically significant (P <.05). All control lenses (Group 3) were clear. The mean GSH level in Group 1 (4.49 micromol/g wet weight +/- 0.93 [SD]) was significantly lower than that in Group 2 (8.63 +/- 0.88 micromol/g wet weight) (P <.05) and controls (10.76 +/- 1.97 micromol/g wet weight) (P <.05). The mean MDA level in Group 1 (8.54 +/- 1.31 nmol/g wet weight) was significantly higher than that in Group 2 (5.23 +/- 0.84 nmol/g wet weight) (P <.05) and controls (4.19 +/- 0.81 nmol/g wet weight) (P <.05). Caffeic acid phenethyl ester effectively suppressed cataract formation in rats. The protective effect was supported by lower GSH and higher MDA levels in Group 1 than in Group 2, suggesting the antioxidant efficacy of this agent. Since CAPE has no known harmful effect on normal cells, it may be beneficial in clinical use in humans.