Abstract: Objective To explore the relationship between glycation end products(AGEs)in crystalline and diabetic retinopathy. Methods A total of 72 patients with diabetic cataract were selected as research objects, and were divided into non-diabetic retinopathy(NDR)group(n=26), non-prolifertive dibetic retinopthy(NDR)group(n=27), and proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR)group(n=19). Thirty-two patients with non-diabetic cataract were selected as control group during the same period. The detection condition of AGEs in each group was compared. Results The levels of carboxyethyl lysine(CEL), pentoside and imidazolone in crystalline lens were increased in sequence in the control group, NDR group, NPDR group and PDR group, and there were significant between-group differences(P<0.05). The correlation analysis showed that the level of pentoside was positively correlated with CEL level(r=0.892, P<0.001)and imidazolone(r=0.826, P<0.001), and level of CEL was positively correlated with level of imidazolone(r=0.821, P<0.001). Conclusion AGEs is closely related to diabetic retinopathy. Therefore, it is of great significance in preventing diabetic-induced ocular complications by reducing AGEs in crystalline lens of diabetic patients.