ObjectiveTo observe the changes of macula in patients with high myopia after phacoemulsification. MethodsIn 20 patients with high myopia with ocular axial length≥27 mm, optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed on the operative and contralateral eyes 1 week before and after monocular phacoemulsification, respectively, and the OCT images of macula of the operative eyes were observed and compared.ResultsOne week before and after phacoemulsification, the mean macular fovea thickness of the patients with high myopia was (131.6±16.37) μm and (189.75±45.69) μm, respectively, with a significant difference (t=2.805, P=0.01). Simultaneously, the mean macular fovea thickness of the contralateral eyes was (133.5±15.12) μm and (133.5±14.63) μm, respectively, with a non-significant difference (t=1.367, P=0.853). In 20 operative eyes 1 week after phacoemulsification, 3 had vitreous strand around the macula with retinal thickening, 1 had retinoschisis in macular area, and 2 had obvious retinal thickening with slight retinal edema.ConclusionRetinal thickening occurs in the patients with high myopia after phacoemulsification. Traction of retina by vitreous strand or subclinical retinoschisis may occur in some patients.(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2005,21:90-92)