With the widespread application of minimally invasive vitrectomy and the improvement of surgical techniques, the demands of patients for better postoperative visual quality are increasing. Cataract is the most common complication after vitrectomy, whereas the refractive outcomes of cataract patients with prior vitrectomy are viable and difficult to predict. In this paper, the main factors affecting postoperative refractive error of cataract patients with a history of vitrectomy, such as biometric error, selection of intraocular lens calculation formulas and prediction of effective lens position, were reviewed in order to provide reference for reducing postoperative refractive error of this special group of cataract patients.