APAO survey of cataract surgeons' attitudes toward operating room waste.

Purpose: To determine Asia Pacific cataract surgeons' attitudes toward surgical waste and toward reusing supplies and pharmaceuticals.

Design: Multinational survey of APAO members METHODS: An online survey link was distributed to APAO members through their national ophthalmology societies. Responses were deidentified and compared with those from identical survey questionnaires previously distributed to North American and European cataract surgeons.

Results: Of 2095 total respondents, most were concerned about climate change (94%), felt cataract surgical waste was excessive (96%), and felt we should reduce unnecessary waste by safely reusing more surgical supplies and devices (80%). Most identified manufacturers and regulatory agencies as the biggest drivers of single use products,rather than surgeons and patients. Most surgeons wanted more reusable instruments and supplies (92%) and wanted greater discretion from manufacturers (92%) andpolicymakers (90%) to reuse many supplies, drugs, and devices; 89% wanted their medical societies to advocate for reducing the waste and carbon footprint of cataract surgery Far more APAO respondents (59%) were currently reusing single-use instruments compared to North Americans (7%) and Europeans (14%). Many APAO respondents were currently reusing phacoemulsification tubing/cassettes (41%), irrigation solution bottles (50%), and intraocular drug solutions (41-55%); 42% were currently not changing surgical gowns between cases. These percentages were all higher compared to North American and European respondents.

Conclusions: These universal and consensus opinions and preferences about willingness to reuse many cataract surgical products should inform and influence pharmaceutical and supply manufacturers, governmental policy makers, and health care institutions, such as hospitals and surgical facilities.