Dr. Abhilash Sakam
Dr.Madhu Uddaraju, Dr.SIVA RAMA KRISHNA
Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate the Annual Carbon Footprint of cataract surgeries done in a tertiary eye care centre and understanding its implications on environmental sustainability.
Methodology: Retrospective observational study of 10,342 cataract surgeries performed in 2017 and the associated waste produced by them and converting the same into CO2 equivalents to see the impact of it on our environment. CO2 equivalents were calculated with online calculator and compared with similar studies.
Results: Carbon footprint for 1 SICS was 3.2 kg CO2 eq, 1 phaco surgery was 9kg CO2 eq. The cummulative effect of 10,342 cataract surgeries was 55.3 tonnes CO2 eq in a span of 1 year.The carbon footprint for each phaco surgery was 2.5 times more than SICS.
Conclusion:Without compromising sterility and patient care, we identified the areas of emission reduction by using reusable OT gowns ,reusable drapes ,phaco machine with out cassettes and reusable instruments.
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