For America Recycles Day, Nov. 15, two ODs spoke to OM about the programs they use to help patients sustainably dispose of their used eye care products, such as packaging materials and old contact lenses. Practices are finding that such programs are a way to not only be environmentally friendly but to offer a service to their patients, as well.

BENEFIT FOR ENVIRONMENT AND PATIENTS

Lassa Frank, OD, CEO of Mt. Tam Optometric Center in San Anselmo, Calif., says his practice has used Bausch + Lomb’s ONE by ONE recycling program, which recycles used contact lenses, top foils, and blister packs, since its creation. “It’s not just good for the environment it’s good for the practice,” he says.

Dr. Frank notes that the recycling program, which has patients deposit material in a special bin at the practice, has persuaded some patients to start using contact lenses for the first time.

Jennifer Tsai, OD, founder and medical director of the Manhattan clinic Line of Sight, says she started using the Bausch + Lomb Biotrue Eye Care Recycling program at her practice earlier this year and has been recycling “pounds of plastic every week” by collecting used eye care materials.

The Biotrue recycling program, which collects used plastic material such as lens cases, has “been a great way for our practice to contribute to the reduction of environmental waste,” says Dr. Tsai. She adds that her patients are “grateful” for the opportunity to recycle.

BY THE NUMBERS

As of press time, B+L’s ONE by ONE Recycling Program, has recycled more than 57 million units of material since its creation in 2016. Biotrue Eye Care Recycling has recycled 153,222 eye drop single-dose units, lens cases and lens solution caps, since its launch in 2021. Both programs are operated through a collaboration with TerraCycle. OM