AIM:To analyze the operative difficulty of cataract operation in an eye with shorter axial length and discuss its preventive measures of the complications.METHODS: To operate extracapsular extirpation cataract with minor incision for 57 cases (63 eyes). To operate cataract phacoemulsification for 71 cases (82 eyes). Their ocular axial lengths were 20.26 to 22.11mm. We observed the vision after operation and the complications of two groups in contrast.RESULTS: Among these patients, the minor incision group, whose vision exceeded 0.5 in the first postoperative week accounted for 86% and cataract phacoemulsification group 87%.The best corrected vision exceeding 0.5 after three months was 94% and 94%, among these patients, corrected vision exceeding 0.8 was 49% and 51%.There was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). Corneal edema: there were 17% in minor incision group and 20% in cataract phacoemulsification group. Posterior capsular rupture: there were 5% in minor incision group and 5% in cataract phacoemulsification group. Iris injury: there were 3% in minor incision group and 1% in cataract phacoemulsification group.CONCLUSION: The cataract operation in an eye with shorter axial length is hard to perform. With the reduction of the intraocular pressure before operation, the correct technique of incision in the operation, the help of Viscoat viscoelastic material, the maintenance of deep anterior chamber and the convenient technique to hard nucleus, the patients can obtain satisfactory operative results.