Background
Cystoid macular edema (CME) is a painless condition in which swelling or thickening occurs of the central retina (macula) and is usually associated with blurred or distorted central vision. Less common symptoms include metamorphopsia, micropsia, scotomata, and photophobia.
CME is a relatively common condition and is frequently associated with various ocular conditions, such as age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), uveitis, epiretinal membrane, vitreomacular traction, diabetes, retinal vein occlusion, medicine-related, or following ocular surgery. When CME develops following cataract surgery and its cause is thought to be directly related to the surgery, it is referred to as Irvine-Gass syndrome or pseudophakic CME.
Postcataract CME is usually self-limited, but for chronic CME or in cases of multiple recurrences, photoreceptor damage with permanent impairment of central vision may result.