Background
Diabetes is the most common risk factor for cataract. Cataract remains one of the major causes of blindness in diabetic patients. Some studies report an increased risk of progression, whereas others report that this progression simply represents the natural course of the disease rather than a surgical outcome

Objectives
To evaluate the influence of uncomplicated unilateral phacoemulsification on postoperative progression of diabetic retinopathy in diabetic patients

Methods
Between February 2018 and August 2018, this prospective observational study included 20 diabetic patients, who were fit for unilateral phacoemulsification, of both genders aged from 35 to 80 years, with Grade I – Grade II cataract and with mild to moderate non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The process included 6 months of follow up with complete clinical ophthalmic examination, Fluorescein fundus angiography and Optical coherence tomography

Results
Our study included 20 patients; study report 6 males and 14 females with mean age of 58±11 years; 17 had mild NPDR and 3 had moderate NPDR. Comparing preoperative and final postoperative visit for the whole study group, 30% showed regression of the DR (6 out of 20), 35% had no significant change (7 out of 20) and 35% showed progression (7 out of 20)

Conclusion
Uncomplicated phacoemulsification cataract surgery may not be responsible for an accelerated rate of DR progression postoperatively. Instead, any DR progression that does occur postoperatively followed a benign course and may simply represent the natural history of the disease