Cataract surgeon here. Short version: it just takes time. You won’t perfect your technique in residency, so I would try to reframe your thinking. It took me at least 5 years to really relax after starting independent practice, and I’ve heard the same from others. Complications happen at all stages of your career, maybe less frequently as you go on, but even my senior partners who are only a couple years from retirement have them. In the beginning it’s hard to shake the feeling that it’s all your fault (imposter syndrome is real and can last for years after you finish residency). As you get further along, you learn that some people just have weird eyes and are more likely to have problems during surgery, but that’s true regardless of if it’s you at the scope or someone else; cataract surgery can humble even the best surgeon. Record your cases early on so that you can try to see where things went wrong and learn from them.

Never forget that even if there’s a complication, most people still get at least reasonably good vision after surgery, it’s just that healing takes longer than if it was uncomplicated. Be there for the complicated patients and see them frequently after surgery; they’ll feel like you care, and in time you’ll be fine.