Use of resources in cataract surgery-More waste is (not) always possible

Abstract

Aspects of ecological sustainability are becoming more important in the healthcare system. The use of resources is particularly high in the operating theater. Cataract surgery is one of the most frequent procedures in ophthalmology and even in medicine overall. Its CO2 footprint is therefore quantitatively relevant. Approaches to conserve resources can be implemented at the levels of production and transport of materials and also in the form of reduction and management of waste. In this paper the sources of the waste load, the management of waste separation, the implementation of single-use instruments and the influence of innovative technologies during cataract surgery are presented based on the current literature. Particularly the use of plastic materials for packaging and single-use instruments, also for reasons of hygiene, lead to an increased waste production. The simple separation of compound materials is difficult and only meaningful if the materials used in eye operations can be recycled; however, international comparisons show that cataract surgery can be performed with the same quality of results while conserving resources. Measures in organization and infrastructure are presented. In the future, innovative strategies should be developed and the use of resources in Germany should also be critically questioned in order to reduce the CO2 footprint of cataract surgery.