Records of 37 consecutive patients of postoperative endophthalmitis referred to our centre from North India were retrospectively analysed to study the first contact management profile. Ten (27%) patients had received intravitreal antibiotics as a primary mode of treatment, and 27 (73%) had received only parenteral antibiotics. The outcome was worse in the latter group. This suggests that general ophthalmologists lack the capability to provide adequate treatment to patients with endopthalmitis in Northern India.