Global warming impact of fluorinated gases in ophthalmic surgeries at a tertiary eye center in India

Abstract

Purpose: Global warming is one of the greatest health threats of the 21st century. The ophthalmic sector contributes to the emission of greenhouse gases, thus altering the natural environment. There is currently no data on global emissions of fluorinated gases in ophthalmic surgery. This retrospective study from 2017 to 2021 aims to report the carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalence of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), hexafluoroethane (C2F6), and octafluoropropane (C3F8) at a tertiary eye center. Methods: Data collected from 1842 surgical procedures that used injections of fluorinated gases were analyzed. Environmental impact (global warming potential over 100 years) was calculated by converting milliliters to grams by using modified ideal gas law at standard temperature and pressure for the canisters and then to their CO2 equivalence. Results: Though 70% of surgeries used C3F8, the least greenhouse effect causing fluorinated gas, the total carbon emission was 1.4 metric tons. The most common indication was macular hole surgery (36.86%). Conclusion: This study paves a step toward analyzing the problem statement, thus awakening us to contemplate options to make ophthalmic surgeries greener.