---
title: Addressing the Rural Eye Surgeon Shortage
description: Rural U.S. faces a critical shortage of eye surgeons, limiting access to specialized care. Discover the challenges and potential solutions to bridge the gap.
image: https://visionexecutives.com/hubfs/Rural%20Eye%20Surgeon%20Shortage.png
---

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# Addressing the Rural Eye Surgeon Shortage

Mar 27, 2025, 10:56:36 AM

[Vision Executives](https://visionexecutives.com/blog/author/vision-executives)

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𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐲𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞: 𝐀 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐔.𝐒. 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞

​ 📉 A recent study published in JAMA Ophthalmology has highlighted a significant shortage of ophthalmic subspecialist surgeons in rural areas of the United States. Despite approximately 20% of the U.S. population residing in rural regions, only about 5.6% of eye surgeons practice there, creating a disparity that affects access to specialised eye care. ​

👨‍⚕️ The study analysed Medicare Fee-For-Service claims from 2012 to 2022, encompassing over 1.6 million procedures performed by 13,526 ophthalmic subspecialists. Findings revealed that while 17.4% of patients needing subspecialized eye procedures lived in rural areas, a mere 5.6% of surgeons were available to serve them. This imbalance was consistent across various subspecialties, including cornea, glaucoma, oculoplastic, retina, and strabismus. ​

👩‍⚕️ Several factors contribute to this shortage. Female surgeons and recent medical school graduates are less likely to practice in rural settings. Additionally, the percentage of rural surgeons has declined over time, exacerbating the disparity. ​

👀 This shortage poses significant challenges for rural patients, who may face delays in receiving timely eye care, potentially leading to worsened outcomes for conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal diseases. Addressing this issue requires targeted efforts to incentivize ophthalmic specialists to practice in rural areas, ensuring equitable access to essential eye care services across the country.

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