SAVE THE SEA

The Importance of Protecting Our Oceans

Conscious Disposal of Contact Lenses

Nancy Maria Douat Dietrich e Maria Luiza Garcia

What are Contact Lenses?

Used by millions of people worldwide.
Easy to dispose of improperly (down the drain, sink, or trash).
Can turn into persistent microplastics in waterways.
These are non-biodegradable plastic polymers, such as hydrogels and silicone hydrogels.
They absorb chemical pollutants.
They break down into particles smaller than 5 mm.
They reach rivers, oceans, and the food chain.

A population's health depends on the quality of the water it uses. The availability and quality of this water depend on consumption habits and measures to protect its sources. Environmental illiteracy, waste, deforestation, and pollution are the greatest threats to access to drinking water (Dias, 2006).

Impacts of Microplastics Released by Discarded Contact Lenses

Release of additives

Chemicals present in lenses are released into the water, contaminating ecosystems.

Microplastics mistaken for Food

Microscopic particles end up being ingested by marine organisms, entering the base of the food chain.

Sponge effect

They function like sponges, accumulating persistent organic pollutants that spread throughout the aquatic environment.

Surface for bacteria

They serve as an attachment surface for microorganisms, including pathogenic bacteria that can affect health.

Entry into the food chain

They enter the food chain through seafood.

Alteration of the food chain

Predators accumulate plastics and toxins, altering the structure and functioning of marine communities.

Water contamination

Microplastics reach water sources and harm the quality of water used by the population.

Bacterial proliferation

The presence of microplastics enhances bacterial proliferation, increasing the risk of infections.

NUMBERS

A single daily contact lens wearer can discard 700 to 1,000 lenses per year.

NUMBERS

Contact lens use by modality

The contribution of the Institute of Ophthalmology of Joinville and Coopervision to the environment

The Joinville Ophthalmology Institute and CooperVision strategic vision is focused on environmental sustainability and the protection of Babitonga Bay.

As part of this commitment, they are promoting an educational campaign providing patients with a sustainable box for proper disposal of contact lenses, along with the plastic blister and aluminum foil, to be taken to the Institute once the packaging is complete.

Specific contact lens recycling programs are already in operation in Europe and the United States, but they do not yet exist in Brazil: they transform discarded lenses into new products (e.g., street furniture).

25,3%

of post-consumer plastic waste in Brazil was recycled*

63,4%

of recycled plastic comes from packaging and disposables*

61%

of plastic waste in the environment has not even been collected by formal collection systems (World)**

1 million

of new jobs can be created in the world by 2040 by investing in Circular Economy (World)**

*MaxiQuim Research, 2021 | **Breaking the Plastic Wave Report, 2020

Policies and Role of Industry

In addition to individual actions, manufacturers, authorities, and healthcare professionals play a crucial role: adopting extended responsibility, monitoring microplastics, investing in capture technologies, and promoting educational campaigns to reduce the impact of discarded lenses.A

Policy and Industry

Strong legislation, industry, and policymakers can scale up solutions.

Education

Consumer awareness campaigns can have positive effects.

Manufacturers

Clear labels and instructions indicating proper disposal, collection points, and recycling.

Concepts

In 1946, the World Health Organization (WHO) defined health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. Thus, it is necessary to analyze the body, mind, and even the social context in which the individual lives.

The concept of well-being is broad and multidimensional, and can be classified into different dimensions: physical, emotional, social, professional, intellectual, spiritual, and financial well-being; and environmental well-being, which is a healthy relationship with the physical and community environment: feeling safe, living in healthy places, and in harmony with nature.

Make the Invisible, Visible

What to do?

Investing in shared responsibility.
Changes: education, government legislation, awareness and behavior.
Expanding collection and recycling programs.

Bibliographic Reference

1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9307171/:acesso em 10/08/2025

2.https://www.bauschrecycles.com/?utm_source=consumer&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=301redirect: acesso em 09.082025

3.https://thenext.jnjmedtech.com/healthcare-area/vision: acesso em 12/08/2025

https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/microplastics/:acesso em 12/08/2025

4. https://euromcontact.org/publications/annual-statistics-reports/. Acesso em: 12/08/2025.

5. STATISTA. Contact Lenses - Brazil. Disponível em: https://www.statista.com/outlook/cmo/eyewear/contact-lenses/brazil. Acesso em: 12/08/2025.

6.STATISTA. Contact Lenses - North America. Disponível em: https://www.statista.com/outlook/cmo/eyewear/contact-lenses/north-america. Acesso em: 12/08/2025.

7.OLIVATTO, G. P. et al. Microplásticos: Contaminantes de Preocupação Global no Antropoceno. Rev. Virtual Quim, v. 10, n. 6, p. 1968-1989, 2019.

8.BACCI, D. C.; PATACA, E. M. Educação para a água. Estudos avançados, São Paulo, v. 22, n. 63, p. 211-226, 2008.

9.COLE, M., LINDEQUE, P., HALSBAND, C., GALLOWAY, T. S. Microplastics as contaminants in the marine environment: a review. Marine Pollution Bulletin 2011, 62, 12.

10.Liu, Y. et al. High-Content Screening Discovers Microplastics Released from Contact Lenses. Environmental Science & Technology (2023).American Chemical Society press release: Contact lenses shed microplastics, Jun 15, 2023.

SAVE THE SEA

Conscious Disposal of Contact Lenses

What are Contact Lenses?

Contact Lens Degradation Time

Composition and additives

Environmental exposure

Mechanical abrasion

Biofouling

SCIENTIFIC STUDY

Method:

Result:

Impacts of Microplastics Released by Discarded Contact Lenses

Release of additives

Microplastics mistaken for Food

Sponge effect

Surface for bacteria

Watch the video

Entry into the food chain

Alteration of the food chain

Water contamination

Bacterial proliferation

A single daily contact lens wearer can discard 700 to 1,000 lenses per year.

Global Users:

Europe:

EUA:

Brazil:

Contact lens use by modality

Global (2023):

Europe (2021):

EUA (estim.):

Brazil:

The contribution of the Institute of Ophthalmology of Joinville and Coopervision to the environment

25,3%

63,4%

61%

1 million

Policies and Role of Industry

Policy and Industry

Education

Manufacturers

Concepts

Make the Invisible, Visible

What to do?

Watch the video

Bibliographic Reference

Bibliographic Reference