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Article | 2026 American Glaucoma Society Meeting

Implementing Sustainability: Why Small Changes Matter

At the American Glaucoma Society meeting, Aakriti Garg Shukla, MD, highlighted how small changes in surgical and clinic workflows can meaningfully improve sustainability across ophthalmic care.

By: Aakriti Garg, MD

Glaucoma Physician February 22, 2026

Objective:

To highlight the importance of small changes in surgical and clinic workflows to improve sustainability in ophthalmic care.

Key Findings:

Small changes in surgical and clinic workflows can significantly enhance sustainability.
Excessive packaging in surgical products contributes to waste.
Multidosing pharmaceuticals can save substantial costs and reduce waste.
Frequent patient visits and long travel distances are inefficient and unsustainable.

Interpretation:

Ophthalmic care providers have a unique opportunity to implement sustainable practices that can lead to both environmental benefits and cost savings.

Limitations:

The discussion is focused on glaucoma practices and may not be applicable to all areas of healthcare.
Implementation of suggested changes may vary based on institutional policies and resources.

Conclusion:

Sustainability in ophthalmic care is crucial as the demand for services increases; small, actionable changes can lead to significant improvements.

Aakriti Garg Shukla

Associate Professor of Ophthalmology

Affiliations: Columbia University

Specialties: Surgery

Bio: Aakriti Garg Shukla, MD, is an associate professor of ophthalmology at Columbia University. She is a glaucoma and cataract surgeon. At the 2026 American Glaucoma Society meeting in Palm Springs, California, Dr. Garg Shukla presented on sustainability in glaucoma practice. Her presentation addressed practical strategies for high-volume glaucoma and cataract settings, including reducing excessive operating room packaging, appropriate reuse of surgical products, and perioperative medication multidosing consistent with American Academy of Ophthalmology recommendations.

Aakriti Garg

Associate Professor of Ophthalmology

Affiliations: Columbia University

Specialties: Surgery

Bio: Aakriti Garg, MD, is an associate professor of ophthalmology at Columbia University. She is a glaucoma and cataract surgeon whose work focuses on surgical and clinical care in ophthalmology, including issues relevant to high-volume glaucoma practice. At the 2026 American Glaucoma Society meeting, Dr. Garg Shukla presented on sustainability in glaucoma care, highlighting practical changes in clinic, operating room, and pharmaceutical workflows that can reduce waste while supporting patient care. Her recent professional commentary has emphasized sustainability strategies for glaucoma and cataract practices, including perioperative multidosing and reducing excessive operating room packaging.