Climate-Conscious Glaucoma Care: Strategies to Minimize the Environmental Impact in the Operating Room and in the Clinic.

Abstract

The healthcare sector contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. There is an increasing prevalence of glaucoma, and glaucoma surgeries, nonsurgical treatment, and clinic follow-up contribute to these emissions. Some of the main sources of emissions associated with glaucoma care are related to transportation to and from surgical centers and clinic, single use equipment and eye drops, excessive device packaging, and waste produced in the operating room. There are several changes we can make to our practice patterns to help mitigate these emissions while maintaining safe and effective care for our glaucoma patients. We should emphasize disinfecting equipment properly rather than purchasing single-use items. We should perform procedures that utilize equipment that is locally available and recommend manufacturers to use smaller packages for glaucoma devices. We should strive to perform bilateral procedures when safe for patients. Finally, we should integrate telehealth into our regular practice.