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Background: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of uncomplicated cataract surgery on macular thickness in diabetic and nondiabetic patients. Methods: The cases of patients who underwent phacoemulsification surgery between March and June 2013 were retrospectively evaluated. Patients with over 6% HbA1c, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, systemic disease, concurrent ocular disease, use of drugs that may affect macular thickness, and complicated surgeries were excluded. Preoperative and postoperative 3rd-month visual acuity and intraocular pressure were measured, and biomicroscopy and fundus examinations were performed. Cirrus HD-OCT model 4000 optic coherence tomography (Carl Zeiss Inc., Oberkochen, Germany) was used for macular thickness analysis. All data was statistically analyzed. Results: Twenty-four eyes were included in the diabetic patient group; 34 eyes were included in the control group. Corrected visual acuity at final visit had increased in both groups (p<0.05). By the end of the 3rd month, mean change in central foveal thickness was 16.03±4.5 µm in the diabetic group (p<0.05), and 7.31±3.3 µm in the control group (p<0.05). Postoperatively, perifoveal thicknesses of 3 and 6 mm increased significantly in both groups. By follow-up, clinically significant macular edema (CME) had developed in 1 eye of a diabetic patient, while no CME had developed in the control group. When data was compared between groups, foveal and perifoveal mean thickness changes were significantly higher in the diabetic group (p<0.05). Conclusion: While significant macular thickness increase was postoperatively observed in both groups, it was found that this increase was higher in diabetic patients. Ophtalmalogic surgeons should be careful when planning cataract sugery in diabetic patients without rethinopathy although HbA1c levels are normal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]