This method of surgery is very safe. The major risk is infection getting into the eye. This usually starts by the eye getting suddenly red and the vision going blurry a few days after the operation. Effective and rapid treatment often can save the vision by injecting antibiotics into the eye. In my last 5000 patients this has happened in 2 patients. That means however that in my hands your risk of a severe infection is 1 in 2500. If this occurs there will probably be temporary loss of vision some of which may not return. Cataract surgery can affect the retina in very rare cases. It can cause a retinal detachment or water logging of macula (the line of vision). These events can have an adverse effect on the vision.

All surgery carries minute risks where anything can go wrong. It is neither possible nor useful to list every single complication that has ever occurred to patients having cataract surgery.
Although these risks may seem frightening it is important to remember that not having the cataract removed and living with blurred vision is probably more risky. Accidents that occur with cataract can be more dangerous than having the operation itself. I believe that in my hands the risk of living with cataract is greater than the risk of having cataract surgery.