At Evergreen Eye Center in Federal Way, Wash., the doctors collected data for 5 years on savings per cataract surgery by using reusable supplies.

Drs. John Steven Jarstad and Aaron Weingeist found a $900 difference in cost per case by using less expensive or reusable supplies and multidose solutions versus single-use disposables.

For example, with surgical packs and drapes, the hospital was paying $114 per case for sterile surgical packs, and the doctors at Evergreen were able to come up with a "no-frills" pack for $24.