Waste and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Produced from Ophthalmic Surgeries: A Scoping Review

Brian Morris, Jenna Tauber, Anvit Rai, Cassandra Thiel, Tiana J. Geringer and Umar K. Mian ()
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Brian Morris: NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
Jenna Tauber: Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital, New York, NY 11432, USA
Anvit Rai: Stony Brook School of Medicine, New York, NY 11794, USA
Cassandra Thiel: Departments of Population Health and Ophthalmology, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
Tiana J. Geringer: Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461, USA
Umar K. Mian: Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461, USA

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 22, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: (1) Background: Healthcare is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, especially within the surgical suite. Ophthalmologists play a role, since they frequently perform high-volume procedures, such as cataract surgery. This review aims to summarize the current literature on surgical waste and GHG emissions in ophthalmology and proposes a framework to standardize future studies. (2) Methods: Protocol and reporting methods were based on PRISMA guidelines for scoping reviews. Articles that reported any quantitative measurement of waste or GHGs produced from ophthalmic surgeries were eligible for inclusion. Commentaries, opinion papers, reviews and articles in a non-English language were excluded. (3) Results: A total of 713 articles were reviewed, with 10 articles found to meet inclusion criteria. Six studies produced level 3 evidence, two level 4 evidence, and one level 5 evidence. According to studies, most of the GHGs came from procurement of surgical materials, followed by travel emissions and building energy. (4) Conclusions: Research on waste and GHGs produced in ophthalmic surgery is limited, and existing studies utilize varied approaches to quantify this waste. We propose a standardized waste-lifecycle framework for researchers to organize future research. Such standardization will help in comparing studies and may uncover more opportunities to implement impactful waste reduction strategies in ophthalmology.

Keywords: ophthalmology; cataract; surgery; waste; emissions; greenhouse; carbon; LCA (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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