Preoperative topical antibiotics and lash trimming in cataract surgery.

Fifty patients admitted for cataract extraction had their lids and conjunctive cultured two days preoperatively, on the morning of surgery, and on each of the first four postoperative mornings. Multiple topical preoperative antibiotics given for forty-eight hours before surgery produced a marked reduction in the periocular bacterial flora, an effect which persisted throughout the postoperative period. Lash trimming prior to surgery did not alter the periocular bacterial flora present on the morning of surgery or at any time during the first four postoperative days. While multiple preoperative topical antibiotics may reduce the incidence of postoperative endophthalmitis through suppression of periocular bacterial flora, no such role can be postulated for lash trimming.