- Macular edema is not considered to be due to a cause other than diabetic macular edema. An eye should not be considered eligible (1) if the macular edema is considered to be related to cataract extraction or (2) clinical exam and/or OCT suggests that vitreoretinal interface disease (eg. vitreo-retinal traction or epriretinal membrane) is the primary cause of the macular edema.