Diabetic maculopathy and cataract extraction.

: In 20 diabetic patients with diabetic retinopathy, we followed up the development of diabetic maculopathy after extraction. In 65% of the cases, the arisal or progression of the present macular edema was recorded 2 months after extraction together with a visual impairment. In 4 of them, the visual acuity adjusted itself within 10 months. The cause of this phenomenon may be traction of the vitreous body on the retina or the change in the hemodynamic conditions in the retina after cataract extraction. Since an improvement in the visual acuity occurs only in 30% of the involved eyes, it is recommended to apply the photocoagulation treatment on arisal or deepening of the edema.