SAN FRANCISCO — Ophthalmologists can reduce unnecessary waste by changing the way they use topical drops, according to a speaker at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting.
“We know that prescription drugs make up a sizeable proportion of U.S. health care costs,” Annie M. Wu, MD, said. “Cataract surgery has a significant financial burden thanks to the sheer volume of surgeries we perform every year.”
Wu said cataract surgery accounts for $3.4 billion annually in the U.S. alone, or about 12% of all Medicare spending.
The carbon footprint of cataract surgery can