With the increased popularity of extracapsular cataract surgery, the need for a peripheral iridectomy has been questioned. Some surgeons feel that the risks involved in performing the iridectomy are greater than when leaving the iris untouched. The indications and risks of iridectomy with cataract surgery are discussed. Four case reports are presented. In three cases, iridectomy was not performed with cataract surgery, and a pupillary block developed. In one of these three, a congenital cataract, secondary angle closure, developed requiring filtering surgery. In the fourth case, an iridectomy prevented serious complications from an unusual degree of postoperative inflammation with complete posterior synechia following uneventful cataract surgery.