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Sustainability as a path to better eye care access. At the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting, Dr. Sila Bal argued that sustainable practices in ophthalmology aren't just eco-friendly — they're a powerful tool for expanding global patient access. From reusing surgical blades in Nepal to deploying AI diagnostics in underserved regions, smarter resource use can deliver excellent care without the excess.
Sustainability isn't just good for the planet — it's good for patients
At the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting in New Orleans, Dr. Sila Bal made a compelling case that sustainability in ophthalmology is fundamentally an access argument. Drawing on her global outreach work — including a trip to Nepal where surgical blades were used five to six times and recycled for scrap revenue — she showed that excellent outcomes don't require excessive resource consumption. Studies comparing phacoemulsification waste between Western OR settings and India's Aravind Eye Hospital found no difference in complications or outcomes, despite dramatically different resource use.
Bal proposed expanding the traditional five R's of sustainability (reduce, reuse, recycle, rethink, research) with three new ones tailored to healthcare: resource (use less per patient), reach (bring care to where patients are), and resilience (build systems that sustain themselves). She highlighted AI as a surprising sustainability ally — enabling remote diagnostics that reduce travel emissions and make care feasible in geographically isolated communities.
Key Takeaways
Why it matters: As healthcare systems worldwide grapple with resource constraints and inequitable access, reframing sustainability as a driver of access — rather than a cost or constraint — offers ophthalmologists a practical roadmap for delivering high-quality care more intelligently and equitably.
