Cataract surgery is extremely common, with millions of patients having it done every year. Most surgeries are successful, though there is always a slight risk of infection or other complications.
The risk of complications is estimated at around 1 in 50 cases. These can include: blurred vision, some loss of vision, detached retina – where the thin layer at the back of your eye (retina) becomes loose.
Most of these serious complications can be treated with medicines, laser treatment or further surgery.
There is a very small risk (around 1 in 1,000) of permanent sight loss in the treated eye as a direct result of the operation.
These risks will be discussed with you by your optometrist before you are referred to an ophthalmologist. They will be discussed again in the Eye Clinic and you will be asked to give consent for surgery.