This retrospective study concerns complications arising from 1304 first operations for cataract carried out between 1982 and 1987 by two surgeons having followed the same training and using the same techniques. Loss of vitreous (2.5%) cystoid macular edema (1.9%), and retinal detachement (1.1%) are those complications occurring most frequently in this series. Other serious complications, in descending order, are trauma (0.7%), iris prolaps (0.5%), corneal dystrophy (0.4%), pupillary block (0.3%), expulsive hemorrhage (0.15%), loss of the nucleus in the vitreous (0.07%), panophthalmia (0.07%). Secondary cataract was noted in 31% of cases.