Phytotherapy has proven to be effective in the management of diabetes and diabetic complications. Diabetes has been identified as one of the major risk factors for cataract. Cataract is defined as opacification or optical dysfunction of the crystalline lens. In the present study Areca catechu (AC) and Arecoline hydrobromide (AHB) were evaluated as possible inhibitors of aldose reductase (AR: a key enzyme in cataractogenesis) and the plant is previously reported for its antioxidant and antidiabetic activities. Anti cataract activity of AC and AHB was demonstrated using sugar induced lens opacity model, where the chick lenses were incubated in Kreb’s ringer bicarbonate buffer pH 7.5 (supplemented with Taxim and streptomycin) containing 55mM glucose (cataractogenesis) with epalrestat AC extract and AHB at a concentrations of 1µg/ml, 100µg/ml and 10µg/ml respectively for 24 hrs at 37℃ with 5% CO2 and 95% air. After 24 hrs polyol (galactitol) levels in incubated lenses were measured spectrophotometrically. When compared to the standard drug epalrestat, the plant extract and its constituent demonstrated significant AR inhibitory activity. Cataract induced lenses had a higher galactitol content. However, lenses treated with epalrestat, AC and AHB contained lower content of galactitol. The current study found that AC and AHB prevented the formation and progression of cataract by glucose, as evidenced by lens transparencies with photographic evaluation and lens galactitol level.