Purpose <p>In this prospective study, we aimed to investigate the effect of uncomplicated phacoemulsification surgery on retinal vascular diameters (RVD), SFCT (subfoveal choroidal thickness), central macular thickness (CMT) in patients with senile cataract.</p> Methods <p>Data from a total of 66 eyes of 61 patients with grade 2–3 senile cataract who underwent uncomplicated phacoemulsification surgery between July 2018 and September 2019 were included in the study. The patients’ age, gender, operated eye side, and ophthalmological examination and imaging data, postoperative RVD, SFCT and CMT measurements by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) were recorded. The preoperative and postoperative follow-up measurements of the examination and imaging parameters were analyzed.</p> Results <p>There was no statistically significant difference in SFCT and retinal arteriolar diameter values between the preoperative and postoperative follow-up measurements (<i>p</i> &gt; 0.05). Regarding retinal vein diameter values, there was a statistically significant decrease observed at 3&#xa0;months compared to 1&#xa0;week postoperative value (<i>p</i>: 0.033). Although a statistically non-significant decrease was observed at 1&#xa0;week postoperatively (277.9 ± 33.99&#xa0;μm), a statistically significant increase in CMT was noted at both 1&#xa0;month and 3&#xa0;months postoperatively compared to the preoperative value (283.72 ± 37.50&#xa0;μm and 284.33 ± 36.96&#xa0;μm, respectively) (<i>p</i> = 0.001). A statistically significant negative correlation was observed between age and SFCT before surgery (r = − 0.394, <i>p</i> = 0.003), at 1&#xa0;week (r = − 0.411, <i>p</i> = 0.004), and at 1&#xa0;month postoperatively (r = − 0.419, <i>p</i> = 0.003).</p> Conclusion <p>The choroid, retinal layers and retinal vascular structures may be impacted by surgical-induced inflammation in uncomplicated phacoemulsification surgery.</p>