Review was performed of extracapsular cataract extraction with posteri
or chamber lens implantation in 90 diabetic patients and 263 non-diabe
tic patients. There was a higher incidence of posterior capsular opaci
fication as judged by the requirement for Nd:YAG posterior capsulotomy
in patients with non-proliferative (12/35, 34%) or quiescent prolifer
ative diabetic retinopathy (8/18, 44%) than in non-diabetic patients (
48/263, 18%) (Mantel-Haenszel p = 0.04). Although subgroup analysis sh
owed a higher incidence of posterior capsule opacification in diabetic
s with non-proliferative or quiescent proliferative retinopathy than i
n diabetics without retinopathy, this was not statistically significan
t (Mantel-Haenszel p = 0.19 and p = 0.07, respectively). Following cat
aract surgery in diabetics with retinopathy, frequent review and promp
t management of posterior capsular opacification is recommended, to ma
intain adequate fundus visualisation at a time when deterioration of r
etinopathy is likely.