Cystoid macular edema after intracapsular and extracapsular cataract extraction with and without an intraocular lens.

A prospective cystoid macular edema study of aphakic and pseudophakic patients showed that extracapsular cataract surgery has a lower rate than intracapsular surgery when the surgery is uncomplicated. There was no difference in the rates with intracapsular surgery with and without an intraocular lens. A complicated extracapsular with an intraocular lens has a higher rate than when the surgery is uncomplicated. In extracapsular surgery with complications, there is no difference in the rates with and without an intraocular lens. When complications occur, the ratio of clinical to angiographic-proven cases is higher than when the surgery is uncomplicated. This study included four series of uncomplicated cataract extractions and three series of complicated cataract extractions. A fluorescein angiogram was performed on every patient at least one year after surgery.