Bio Usawa attended the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, where Dr. David F. Chang delivered the 2026 Richard L. Lindstrom Lecture.

The presentation examined evidence-based prevention of postoperative endophthalmitis in cataract surgery, followed by an analysis of surgical waste and regulatory paradoxes in ophthalmic practice.

Dr. David F. Chang, a world-renowned cataract surgeon, delivered the 2026 Richard L. Lindstrom Lecture at the ASCRS Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Chang reviewed current evidence demonstrating that low endophthalmitis rates are primarily achieved through standardized aseptic technique, validated sterilization processes, high surgical volume with team consistency, and routine use of intracameral antibiotics. He emphasized that available data do not support a correlation between increased reliance on single-use disposable supplies and reduced infection risk.

The Aravind Eye Care System was cited as a large-scale reference model, reporting post-cataract surgery endophthalmitis rates of approximately 0.02 – 0.06 percent, comparable to or lower than those reported in high-income countries, despite substantially reduced use of disposable materials.

Building on these safety findings, Dr. Chang addressed the scope of avoidable surgical waste, noting that many disposable items included in standard cataract surgery packs are routinely unused and do not contribute to improved outcomes.

He reported that customization of surgical packs and evidence-based waste-reduction strategies can result in per-case cost savings in the range of 20–60 units in high-income settings and 5–15 units in low- and middle-income settings, with significant cumulative impact at scale, without increasing infection risk.

The lecture concluded that evidence-based infection prevention and surgical waste reduction are compatible and mutually reinforcing goals. Aligning clinical practice and regulatory frameworks with current evidence can improve patient safety, efficiency, sustainability, and access to cataract surgery globally.