One hundred sixty-eight closed claims involving cataract procedures reported to Ophthalmic Mutual Insurance Company (OMIC) over a 10-year period were evaluated. Indemnity payments totaling more than $3 million were made in 37 cases. These 37 cases represented only 7% of all OMIC claims, but their total indemnity payment represented 24% of the total indemnity paid by OMIC during the 10-year period. (C) 1999 by Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.