Abstract: Objective To investigate the changes of macular foveal retinal thickness (FRT) after the phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation in type 2 diabetics patients. Methods A total of 60 cases of cataract with phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation were recruited. Thirty cases of 60 Patients with diabetics were in diabetic group, and others with age-related cataract were in control group. FRT were measured by using optical coherence tomography (OCT) before phacoemulsification and 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after the surgery. The changes of FRT were compared in the two groups. Results In the diabetic group, the preoperatively mean fovea thickness was (216.24±19.44)μm, and postoperatively mean fovea thickness was (216.20±18.94)μm at 1 day after the operation, (216.94±19.00)μm in 1 week after the operation, (235.17±24.42)μm in 1 month after the operation, and (227.52±25.36)μm in 3 months after the operation. In 1 week, 1 month and 3 months after the operation, the difference in FRT was significant(all P<0.05). In the control group, the FRT was thickened at 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month after the surgery, which decreased slightly at 3 months after the surgery, but with no statistical difference (all P> 0.05). The difference of the mean fovea thickness between the two groups at 1 month and 3 month after surgery was significant (all P<0.01). Macular edema was found in 5 eyes (5/30, 16.67%) in the diabetic group, and none (0/30) in the control group. Conclusion The thickness of the fovea of retina increases significantly after phacoemulsification in diabetics and the morbidity of macula edema increases as well.