Ophthalmology must do more to fight climate crisis

Surgeons need to play a more active role in minimising carbon emissions, reducing waste, and putting sustainability at the heart of their professional endeavours.

That was the stark message delivered to delegates at yesterday’s opening ceremony by Sjoerd Elferink MD, FEBO, who said the healthcare sector and ophthalmology, in particular, can do a lot more to reduce its carbon footprint and lead by example.

“It is critical to realise the risks posed by climate change exceed those of any single disease. It cannot be stressed often enough that the climate crisis is also a health crisis,” said Dr Elferink, who serves as Chair of the newly formed ESCRS Young Ophthalmologists Green Group.

Dr Elferink said the healthcare sector cannot shirk its responsibility in the global effort to tackle the climate crisis.

“We see in the Netherlands, for example, that the healthcare sector accounts for 8% of the total carbon footprint [in the country]. So it basically means that we as a healthcare sector are harming health,” he said.

Surgery accounts for a large proportion of this carbon footprint.

“We know it produces 30% of the waste in a hospital. It is three to six times more energy consuming than the other parts of hospital. And cataract surgery is unique because it has the highest surgical volume worldwide, which will increase significantly in the coming years. So we can have this significant impact if we change our habits and the way we do things,” he said.

Global action and collaboration are needed to effect change, said Dr Elferink. Everyone can contribute by taking positive steps to learn more, become aware of sustainability measures, and become advocates for change at local and national levels. He urged delegates to attend the sustainability programme taking place at the Milan Congress as well as dedicated Practice Management sessions devoted to the topic.

“As physicians, we have an important role to play because the climate crisis is a health crisis. And the key to winning the climate debate is not economic—it is health. Climate ranks low in polls of public fears while sickness ranks top. This is where we come in. I have a dream that we as medical doctors will use our position as a trusted messenger to help people understand what is at stake—because if everything is at stake, everything is possible,” he said.

Tags: 40th Congress of the ESCRS