What is the incidence of postoperative complications after cataract surgery?

• A. 10-15%
• B. 5-9%
• C. 20-25%
• D. 30-40%

Answer: (A)

Postoperative complications after cataract surgery occur at a modest rate, with most issues being minor and transient rather than vision-threatening. In contemporary practice, the overall incidence of any postoperative complication is typically around 10-15%. This encompasses events like temporary corneal edema, mild anterior chamber inflammation, short-lived intraocular pressure spikes, and sometimes cystoid macular edema, which usually resolve with standard care. Serious complications such as endophthalmitis or retinal detachment are far less common, contributing only a small fraction of the risk.

If you see a figure like 5-9%, that would underrepresent the everyday experience in many centers where minor, self-limiting issues are included in the tally. Higher ranges like 20-25% or 30-40% would suggest a much larger burden of problems than is typically observed, especially with modern techniques and skilled surgeons. So the 10-15% range best matches the common overall incidence.