Fucithalmic, chloramphenicol or no treatment after squint surgery in children. A single blind randomised study.

One hundred and four children undergoing strabismus surgery were randomised post-operatively to one of three treatment groups; 1) fucithalmic drops twice daily; 2) chloramphenicol (chlormycetin) ointment twice daily; 3) no treatment. Allocation to the 'no treatment' group had to be stopped after 3 of the first 8 patients in the group developed severe mucopurulent conjunctivitis. A parental questionnaire and clinical assessment, carried out in a single blind fashion revealed that nearly all parents were able to apply the prescribed treatment and that both treatments were effective in preventing bacterial conjunctivitis. Post-operative antibiotics seem to be necessary following squint surgery in children, and fucithalmic viscous drops are a useful alternative to chlormycetin ointment.