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Abstract #100677 Published in IGR 23-1
Reducing Topical Drug Waste in Ophthalmic Surgery: Multi-society Position Paper
Palmer DJ; Robin AL; McCabe CM; Chang DF;Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery 2022; 48: 1073-1077
This position paper on reducing topical drug waste with ophthalmic surgery was written by the Ophthalmic Instrument Cleaning and Sterilization task force, comprised of representatives of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Glaucoma Society, and the Outpatient Ophthalmic Surgery Society. Drug waste significantly increases the costs and carbon footprint of ophthalmic surgery. Surgical facilities should be permitted to use topical drugs in multidose containers on multiple patients until the manufacturer's labeled date of expiration, if proper guidelines are followed. Surgical patients requiring a topical medication not used for other patients should be allowed to bring that partially used medication home for postoperative use. These recommendations are based on published evidence and clarification of policies from multiple regulatory and accrediting agencies with jurisdiction over surgical facilities. Surveys suggest that most ambulatory surgery centers and hospitals performing cataract surgery are wasting topical drugs unnecessarily.
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL.
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