AbstractBackground: Cataract surgery are usually done in elderly patients. Dexmedetomidine is a potent non-opiod sedative and analgesic devoid of respiratory depression. Midazolam is the most commonly used sedative which is commonly associated with respiratory depression specially in elderly patients. Objectives: To compare the effects of intravenous dexmedetomidine and midazolam on the haemodynamic stability, sedation and intraocular pressure and to study the safety profile of the drug Methodology: After obtaining permission from institutional ethical committee and patient informed consent, study was conducted at BMCRI from November 2016 to May 2018 in ASA Grade 1 and 2 patients of 40 to 70 year age undergoing cataract surgery. Patients were randomly allocated to two Group D and M of 32 each. Group D received inj. dexmedetomidine 0.25mcg/kg, Group M received inj. midazolam 0.02mg/kg diluted to 10ml over 10 minutes as intravenous injection. Peribulbar block was given with 8-10ml of injection 2% lignocaine with adrenaline with hyaluronidase. Haemodynamic parameters like Heart Rate, Mean Arterial Pressure and SpO2, Intra Ocular Pressure in non-operating eye, Ramsay Sedation Score, Visual Analogue Score and Modified Aldrete Score were recorded. Results: We concluded that in our study demographic data were comparable. Patients of Dexmedetomidine group had reduction of IOP after drug injection (p=0.001) and at post bulbar block (p=0.002) which is statistically significant compared to Group M patients and also there was statistically significant difference in RSS Score between two groups. Conclusions: Dexmedetomidine provides same conscious sedation as Midazolam. Dexmedetomidine reduces intraocular pressure and maintains SpO2 when compared to Midazolam in cataract surgery.