Shifts in Ophthalmologist Access: A Decade of Change and Implications

A national analysis shows a modest rise in geographic access to ophthalmologists over the past decade, driven not by more clinicians but by redistribution to additional practice sites.

The share of the U.S. population within a 30-minute drive of an ophthalmologist rose from 77.6% in 2014 to 81.2% in 2024. Although the absolute number of ophthalmologists fell slightly, practices expanded and clinicians began working in more locations. That shift in distribution—more practice sites per clinician—explains how population-level access rose despite a small decline in headcount.

Persistent disparities remain by geography, race, ethnicity, and insurance status. Rural residents and underserved urban communities continue to have lower local availability of ophthalmology services, indicating that broader coverage has not erased entrenched gaps; targeted interventions will be needed to advance equity.

The analysis also argues that proximity alone does not justify expanding optometrist privileges. Remaining differences in optometrist–ophthalmologist proximity were small and confined to isolated areas, so policy choices should consider workforce size, distribution, and patient needs together rather than relying on proximity as the sole rationale.