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Review
. 2021 Dec;10(4):845-857.
doi: 10.1007/s40123-021-00404-8. Epub 2021 Oct 11.

Ophthalmology Going Greener: A Narrative Review

Yee Ling Wong  1 , Maha Noor  2 , Katherine L James  3 , Tariq M Aslam  3   4
Affiliations
Review

Ophthalmology Going Greener: A Narrative Review

Yee Ling Wong et al. Ophthalmol Ther. 2021 Dec.

Abstract

The combined effects of fossil fuel combustion, mass agricultural production and deforestation, industrialisation and the evolution of modern transport systems have resulted in high levels of carbon emissions and accumulation of greenhouse gases, causing profound climate change and ozone layer depletion. The consequential depletion of Earth's natural ecosystems and biodiversity is not only a devastating loss but a threat to human health. Sustainability-the ability to continue activities indefinitely-underpins the principal solutions to these problems. Globally, the healthcare sector is a major contributor to carbon emissions, with waste production and transport systems being amongst the highest contributing factors. The aim of this review is to explore modalities by which the healthcare sector, particularly ophthalmology, can reduce carbon emissions, related costs and overall environmental impact, whilst maintaining a high standard of patient care.

Keywords: Artificial intelligence; Cataracts; Peripheral hubs; Sustainability; Teleophthalmology.

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Fig. 1
Fig. 1
a Non-clinical waste generated in preparation for a phacoemulsification case. b Clinical waste generated following a phacoemulsification case
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