AIM:To explore the clinical effects of phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation in patients of cataract with idiopathic macular epiretinal membrane. METHODS: Totally 112 patients (118 eyes) with coexisting cataract and idiopathic macular epiretinal membrane underwent phaco and intraocular lens implantation were analyzed retrospectively covering a period from 2008 to 2011.The patients were divided into three types according to their characteristics and OCT features: the early stage, the proliferative stage, and the traction stage respectively.The visual acuity, the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), the central macular thickness and the membrane shape were observed and analyzed before the surgery and at 1 week and 6 months after the surgery. RESULTS:The visual acuity and the BCVA of all the patients were improved more or less 6 months after the surgery . 100% and 73% of the eyes had a BCVA of ≥0.5 in the early stage and the proliferative stage respectively,with 53% of the eyes had a BCVA of ≥0.1 in the traction stage, whereas the central macular thickness had no significant difference. Vitrectomy and internal limiting membrane removal were performed in two patients in the traction group. CONCLUSION:Phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation is an effective and safe method for the management of cataract with idiopathic macular epiretinal membrane. The visual quality can be improved,whereas the retinopathy does not worsened.To the patients with cataract and idiopathic macular epiretinal membrane in the traction stage, combined surgery (vitrectomy, internal limiting membrane removal, phaco and intraocular lens implantation) should be performed.