• N Marie Koederitz, Daniel E Neely, David A Plager, Blair Boehmer, Susan Ofner, Derek T Sprunger, Naval Sondhi, and Gavin Roberts.
• Indiana University School of Medicine/Riley Children's Hospital, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
• J AAPOS. 2008 Aug 1; 12 (4): 396-400.

PurposeWhile antibiotic/steroid combinations are routinely administered during the first week after strabismus surgery, they can be costly and inconvenient and may be unnecessary. This study compares the use of single-dose 5% povidone-iodine drops versus a week-long course of antibiotic/steroid as a prophylaxis against postoperative infection in extraocular muscle surgery.MethodsRetrospective chart review was performed of 1871 patients undergoing routine strabismus surgery. Patients received either a single application of 5% povidone-iodine solution to the operative eye(s) at the conclusion of the surgical procedure or a week-long course of topical antibiotic/steroid. Postoperative records were then reviewed to identify abnormalities or complications occurring during the first 2 months after surgery.ResultsComplete documentation was found for 1603 patients. Single-dose povidone-iodine prophylaxis was used in 953 cases (59.5%), and a postoperative course of topical antibiotic/steroid combination was used in 650 cases (40.5%). Of the 1603 cases, possible infection occurred in 46 patients (2.87%). Of the 46 possible infections, 20 (3.08%) occurred in 650 patients on an antibiotic/steroid combination and 26 (2.83%) occurred in the 953 patients treated with single-dose povidone-iodine prophylaxis. This difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.6815). No cases of orbital cellulitis or endophthalmitis occurred in either group.ConclusionsSingle-dose povidone-iodine is an inexpensive alternative to postoperative antibiotic/steroid prophylaxis following routine strabismus surgery performed through a fornix incision. Patients who had reoperations and limbal incisions were more likely to have complicated postoperative courses: antibiotic/steroid use in these groups may be beneficial.

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