AIM: To investigate the clinical effect of posterior capsulotomy in diabetic retinopathy with silicone oil removal combined with cataract surgery.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis that collected clinical data of 83 cases(83 eyes)diagnosed as diabetic retinopathy and silicone oil filled eyes with cataract and treated in our hospitalfrom January 2019 to February 2020. They were randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group consisted 41 eyes received silicone oil removal and posterior capsulotomy combined with cataract surgery; The rest 42 eyes were in control group, who received silicone oil removal combined with cataract surgery. At 6mo after surgery, the best corrected visual acuity, posterior capsular opacification, and floaters were evaluated between the two groups to confirm the advantages of posterior capsulotomy in combined cataract surgery with silicone oil removal for diabetic retinopathy.

RESULTS: At 6mo after surgery, the best corrected visual acuity in experimental group was better than control group(P<0.05); There were significant differences between the two groups in the posterior capsular opacification, and floaters,experimental group is lower than control group(P<0.05). There was no significant difference in intraocular pressure compared to preoperative between the two groups, and no significant difference in retinal detachment, vitreous hemorrhage and intraocular lens deviationafter operation(P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: Posterior capsulotomy is safe and reliable in the application of silicone oil removal combined with cataract surgery for diabetic retinopathy, and can effectively avoid the occurrence of posterior capsular opacification.