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Growing, graying U.S. population expected to outstrip pool of ophthalmologists
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CHICAGO — Training of ophthalmologists will not keep pace with the growing U.S. population and burgeoning demand for eye care, an ophthalmic advocate said here.
“It’s a dire need that we need more specialists,” Robert A. Copeland Jr., MD, said at a news conference during the joint meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology. “Going forward, we have to make sure that the emphasis in training specialists is equal to the emphasis on individuals who are going into primary care.”
The portion of Americans aged 65 years and older is expected to increase 39% by 2020 and 79% by 2030, he said.
“Because of that, we will have an increase in demand for physician services, especially for specialty services. But I must tell you that the specialty services will be in dire need because we have not grown on the same level as our primary care doctors,” Copeland said.
In 2008, the Association of American Medical Colleges recommended a 30% increase in graduate medical education and a 30% increase in post-graduate training. In addition, ophthalmologists want the Obama administration to rescind a planned 10% cut to medical education over the next 10 years, Copeland said.
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