What are the risks of cataract surgery?
Cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed operations, and complications are uncommon. The recognised ones include inflammation, raised pressure in the eye, swelling of the retina, infection, and a change in the position or clarity of the implanted lens. Most are treatable if they are identified.
- Subject
- Eye conditions
- Topic
- Cataract
- Kind of question
- What is…
- Procedures
- Cataract surgery
- Last reviewed
- 22 September 2026
In more detail
Two things lower the chance of a problem being missed: keeping the follow-up appointment in the first days after surgery, and contacting the clinic about new pain, a sudden drop in vision or a red eye rather than waiting for the next scheduled visit.
What this answer depends on
- The health of the cornea and the retina going into surgery
- The density of the cataract and the complexity of the case
- Any condition that affects healing, such as diabetes
Related guides
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Where this answer sits
It is one of 483 answers in the vision and eye health knowledge base, filed under Eye conditions & diseases in Cataract . The subject page carries the answers either side of it, and the hub is searchable.
Subjects this question touches
The pages that answer the subject behind the question, rather than the question itself.
- Procedure Cataract surgery
- Procedure Refractive lens exchange (RLE)
- Condition Cataract
- Place Cataract surgery in Dubai
This information is for educational purposes and does not replace an examination by a qualified eye-care professional.
General answers cannot tell you what is happening in your own eyes. Only an examination by a qualified ophthalmologist can do that.
Sources & further reading
We prefer primary sources. Where a claim comes from a manufacturer, a single study or a regulator, it is labelled as such below.
- Cataracts in adults: management (NG77)
Clinical guidance on when cataract surgery is indicated, what should be discussed before it, and what follow-up is expected.
Used for When cataract surgery is considered appropriate rather than cosmetic timing; What patients should be told before cataract surgery.
Link checked 23 September 2026
- Cochrane Library
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Useful for readers who want to know how strong the pooled evidence is, not just what one trial found.
Used for Helping readers judge the strength of the evidence base.
Link checked 22 September 2026