Risk and Benefits of Cataract Surgery
Although most cataract surgeries go well complications do occur in about three percent of cases. Most complications can be treated with extra drops and resolve quickly.
Surgical complications happen less then 1/2 a percent or less then one in two hundred cases. These often require a longer surgery or in some cases a second surgery. These patients usually do not lose vision but do have a longer recovery time.
There is a large list of potential complications that happen very infrequently. Infection and serious bleeding, for example happen only one in many thousands. A partial list, not intended to be exhaustive, includes bleeding (choroidal hemorrhage), infection, inflammation, retained lens material, posterior capsule tear, zonular dehiscence, dropped lens material, retinal detachment, macular edema, decentered lens, and edge glare.
You should talk with your surgeon about the risk and benefits of surgery for you. Every patient's cataract is different as well as their complication potential.