Cataract surgery holds the title of the most frequently conducted surgical procedure globally. In the UK alone, Optegra – a provider of eye healthcare for the NHS – performs an average of 25 cataract surgeries per surgeon daily at each of their ~19 sites. This high volume requires significant daily supply deliveries, increasing the environmental impact of surgical operations.
An opportunity to facilitate waste reduction during cataract surgery is offered by using reusable intraocular lens (IoL) introducers. A pilot study undertaken as a collaboration between Johnson & Johnson and Optegra has highlighted the difference in waste generated by cataract surgery when implementing Johnson & Johnson’s Reusable Titanium Inserter VITAN UNFOLDERTM to the single-use alternative. The reusable IoL inserter makes use of a reusable IoL inserter with a single-use cartridge using SmartLOAD™ Delivery Technology.
All the single-use inserter, including the cartridge, goes into the medical waste bag after use whereas only the cartridge goes to medical waste in the case of the reusable inserter. The reusable IoL inserter produces 4.2 times less waste than the
average preloaded disposable delivery system, alongside reduction in shipping materials, shipping journeys and storage requirements during cataract surgery compared to the current single-use system with a similar screw-style inserter. Scaling the saving up, exclusive use of reusable IoL inserter technology could save over 9,300 kg of waste per year in England.