The purpose of this project is to study the risk of cataract development in patients who had undergone pars plana vitrectomy, scleral buckle, or both. A retrospective study was performed of phakic patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy, scleral buckle, or both at Yale University Eye Center from 1998 to 2005. Mild postoperative cataract, defined as a change in severity of 1+, developed in 32 of 53 (60%) eyes following vitrectomy, 2 of 19 (11%) post scleral buckle, and 14 of 16 (88%) after both. Moderate postoperative cataract, defined as a change in severity of 2+, developed in 14 of 53 (26%) eyes post vitrectomy, 1 of 19 (5%) post scleral buckle, and 11 of 16 (69%) after both procedures. In eyes that underwent vitrectomy, a lens change of at least 2+ occurred in 8% at 3 months, 15% at 6 months, 21% at 12 months, and 26% at 36 months. In eyes status post scleral buckle surgery, one eye (5%) experienced a 2+ change at 36 months. In eyes that underwent both vitrectomy and scleral buckle, a lens change of at least 2+ occurred in 44% at 3 months, 50% at 6 months, 63% at 12 months, and 69% at 36 months. Cataract extraction surgery was performed in 15% of eyes post vitrectomy, 0% post scleral buckling, and 50% after both. The most common type of cataract to develop was nuclear sclerotic, which accounted for 61% of cataracts after vitrectomy, 50% after scleral buckling, and 50% after combined vitrectomy and scleral buckling. Scleral buckling surgery is associated with a low risk of cataract formation. Pars plana vitrectomy and combined vitrectomy and buckle have a higher risk of cataract development.