Should I use antibiotic and/or steroid drops or ointment after strabismus surgery?  If I do, is there any down side other than expense?

The members of our group did not use anything except warm compresses after uncomplicated strabismus surgery performed on an eye for the first time.   A review of over 40,000 surgical charts following correction of strabismus showed only one case of endophthalmitis.  This was in a case that gut suture was used back in the late '60's. About two years ago, I was attending John Simon and Jack Baker's course on complications following strabismus surgery.  A show of about 80% of hands in reply to this question made me take the position that if I was brought to litigation, and one of the audience was queried about the standard of care, and I did not use a drop, I might be in trouble fighting a case related to loss of an eye to endophthalmitis.  I now use drops.  Tobradex, QID for 3-4 days. - Albert W. Biglan, M.D.