Climate change is no longer a distant threat; it is a present-day public health emergency. The NHS alone is responsible for around 4% of the UK’s net carbon emissions, producing an estimated 25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent annually. Cataract surgery, the most performed operation in the UK with over half a million procedures each year, offers a unique opportunity for the profession to lead the way in greener healthcare.
The new Ophthalmic Services Guidance: Sustainable Cataract Surgery provides a practical, evidence-based toolkit for change. It sets out recommendations that can be implemented immediately, as well as those requiring further work in the UK context.