Considering the Carbon Footprint of Ophthalmology Conferences

In recent years, increasing attention has been directed toward the roles and responsibilities of medical professionals when it comes to climate change. In the field of ophthalmology, much of the focus to date has been on the clinical and surgical use of resources and materials as a high-volume procedural specialty. McClintic and Stashevsky highlight a different but important aspect of ophthalmologists ’ carbon footprint that has little to do with direct clinical or surgical care. These authors consider the impact of holding in-person vs virtual medical conferences on climate and discuss whether meeting locations can be deliberately selected to potentially reduce the magnitude of this impact. Th ey direct their attention specifically on the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) annual meeting, citing the meeting’s robust size and attendance.
Source: JAMA Ophthalmology - Category: Opthalmology Source Type: research