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Cataract disease affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by the accumulation of light-scattering bodies within the lens that reduce visual acuity. Cataracts are effectively treated surgically, but at great expense, costing Medicare $3.4 billion in 1997. Development of an alternative therapy for this disease would provide medical and economic benefits. We have investigated a novel antioxidant, the superoxide scavenger Mn(III)-salophen, as a therapeutic agent in the selenite cataract model. Mn(III)-salophen has been shown to protect E. coli colonies against oxidative stress but was untested in a eukaryotic system. A total dose of 300 mmol/kg, given IP in four equal 75 mmol/kg doses spaced four hours apart, protects 75% of neonatal rats from nuclear cataract development five days after selenite injection. Selenite is tox...