Abstract: Salvianolic acid A has been demonstrated to have efficient antioxidative and freeradical scavenging effects. In the present experiments,the preventive effects of salvianolic acid A ongalactose-induced cataract in rats were investigated. Dropping 0.05%salvianolic acid A in the eyes(two times a day) was found to delay the development of cataract. The contents of MDA and H₂O₂ inthe cataract lens were decreased in salvianolic acid A treated rats. The Protein and non-protein thiols inthe cataract lens of the salvianolic acid A treated rats were higher than those of control rats. In in vitro experiments salvianolic acid A was shown to inhibit aldose reductase activity. These results indicatethat sallvianolic acid A can prevent galactose-induced cataract by antioxidation and inhibition of aldose reductase.