Eyeworld

22 | EYEWORLD | SPRING 2025 ASCRS NEWS About the author Andrew Keyser, BS Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Medical Center Redwood City, California References 1. Schehlein EM, et al. Reducing ophthalmic surgical waste through electronic instructions for use: a multisociety position paper. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2024;50:197–200. 2. Keyser A, et al. Analysis of in- traocular lens packaging weight and waste. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2024;50:1270–1274. 3. Rossi T, et al. Cataract surgery practice patterns worldwide: a survey. BMJ Open Ophthalmolo- gy. 2021;6. 4. Karmel M. Reducing waste in cataract surgery. American Academy of Ophthalmology. October 1, 2016. Accessed January 19, 2025. https://www. aao.org/eyenet/article/reduc- ing-waste-in-cataract-surgery. by Andrew Keyser, BS EYESUSTAIN UPDATE Analyzing waste from IOL packaging C ataract surgery plays a critical role in healthcare, with nearly 4 million performed annually in the U.S. alone. 3 While this surgical volume brings im- mense benefits to millions of patients, it also contributes significantly to healthcare-re- lated waste and carbon emissions, at approxi- mately 2.3–3.9 kg of waste per case, or roughly 12,800 metric tons per year. 4 As such, there is a growing need to reduce the waste and carbon emissions associated with cataract surgery, par- ticularly from the packaging materials used for IOLs, which are universally discarded after ev- ery procedure. Against this background, a new variety of IOL delivery system has emerged, in which the lens is housed in a self-contained in- jector system, the entirety of which is disposed of after surgery. These "preloaded" IOLs require larger packages to accommodate the increased material involved in this design, but until re- cently, no published research had characterized Each year, millions of patients across the world have their vision restored by cataract surgery, yet the surgical process also generates significant unnecessary waste. Single-use devices, product packaging, and paper instructions for use (IFU) contribute significantly to the environmental foot- print of our most performed surgery. In 2024, the EyeSustain Task Force published a joint position paper with the American Academy of Ophthalmol- ogy (AAO), the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), and the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS), urging the transition to electronic instructions for use (e-IFU) for materials used in cataract surgery. 1 Andrew Keyser, BS, is driving this momen- tum forward. In this issue's EyeSustain Update column, he explored his recently published study, "Analysis of intraocular lens packaging weight and waste," which highlights the differences be- tween packaging waste of various IOLs and their paper or e-IFUs. 2 This study reveals the disparities in packaging across different IOL models, identify- ing key opportunities for reducing waste. Emily Schehlein, MD, EyeSustain Update Guest Editor International Service Grant. This year's winners are Anthony Mai, MD, Van Nguyen, MD, Sana Qureshi, MD, and Imane Tarib, MD. The Young Eye Surgeons International Service Grant was created to inspire young eye surgeons to become involved with global eye- care on a long-term basis. The grant affords the opportunity to participate in healthcare systems, including teaching institutions and community programs, in developing countries. Working with the ASCRS Foundation and its international partners, recipients will develop a customized international volunteer plan that provides the opportunity for a young eye surgeon to learn first-hand the intricacies behind global eyecare efforts. Michigan), Enchi Chang, MD (Harvard Univer- sity), Keke Liu, MD (Duke University), Andrew Duong, MD (University of Southern Califor- nia), Suleman Khan, MD (Boston University), Esteban Peralta, MD (Duke University), Yilin "Eileen" Feng, MD (Harvard University), Diana Khair, MD (University of Kentucky), and Mélanie Hébert, MD (Laval University). This year, the Resident Excellence Awards program is generously sponsored by STAAR Surgical. ASCRS Foundation Young Eye Surgeons International Service Grant Recipients The ASCRS Foundation is excited to announce the recipients of the 2025 Young Eye Surgeons continued from page 21 continued on page 24

• Cover