Microcystic macular edema (MME) represents a pathological change that can be observed in the inner layer of the retina in patients diagnosed with glaucoma. This phenomenon is particularly prevalent in individuals with moderate to advanced glaucoma. The majority of research in this field has focused on primary open-angle glaucoma. The occurrence of MME in glaucoma has been demonstrated to be associated with younger age, advanced stage and disease progression. MME occurs in the parafoveal region, most frequently located in the inferior perimacular region, which corresponded with the most vulnerable area of ganglion cells in glaucoma. The presence of MME may affect the automatic layering of optical coherence tomography images, suggesting that clinicians should be mindful of the occurrence of MME to avoid misdiagnosis of the disease. It is hypothesised that the occurrence of MME in glaucoma may be related to macular vitreous traction, mechanical stress of the stent, and Müller cell dysfunction. A comprehensive investigation of the precise pathophysiological mechanism of MME in glaucoma will facilitate the development of a novel perspective and a scientific foundation for the diagnosis, disease monitoring and evaluation of treatment efficacy in glaucoma.