Waste production from phacoemulsification surgery
Hui Gim Khor1, Irene Cho, Kenneth Rohan Chee Keong Lee
1From the Department of Ophthalmology, Miri Hospital, Ministry of Health, Sarawak, Malaysia.
Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
|March 4, 2020
Summary
Phacoemulsification surgery generates significant clinical and general waste, with recyclable materials comprising over half of the general waste. Implementing the 3 R's (reduce, reuse, recycle) can mitigate the environmental impact of surgical waste.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Environmental Science
- Waste Management
Background:
- Phacoemulsification surgery is a common ophthalmic procedure.
- Surgical waste poses environmental challenges.
- Quantifying waste from ophthalmic surgeries is crucial for sustainability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the total waste generated from phacoemulsification surgeries.
- To categorize surgical waste into clinical, general, and sharps.
- To identify strategies for reducing surgical waste.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study was conducted on phacoemulsification surgery cases.
- Waste was weighed and categorized into general, clinical, and sharps.
- Waste generated by ophthalmologists and trainees was analyzed separately.
Main Results:
- A total of 167.965 kg of waste was produced from 203 cases.
- Clinical waste constituted the largest portion (56.6%), followed by general waste (37.6%).
- Recyclable materials made up 50.9% of the general waste.
Conclusions:
- The average waste per phacoemulsification surgery case was 0.827 kg.
- Excluding recyclables, the average waste was 0.669 kg per case.
- Adhering to reduce, reuse, and recycle principles can lessen environmental impact.
