--- title: "The Ophthalmology Recruitment Crisis: It’s More than Meets the Eye" description: A short article on the current ophthalmology recruitment crisis. image: https://visionexecutives.com/hubfs/recruitment%201.png --- [Skip to content](https://visionexecutives.com/blog/the-ophthalmology-recruitment-crisis-its-more-than-meets-the-eye#main-content) [![Vision Executives Logo](https://visionexecutives.com/hubfs/Color%20logo%20with%20white%20text.svg)](https://www.visionexecutives.com/) - [About](https://visionexecutives.com/about-us) - Recruitment Services Show submenu for Recruitment Services - [Retained Recruitment](https://visionexecutives.com/retained-recruitment) - [Contingency Recruitment](https://visionexecutives.com/contingency-recruitment) - [Our Candidates](https://visionexecutives.com/our-candidates) - [FREE Bad Hire Calculator](https://visionexecutives.com/bad-hire-calculator) - [FREE Job Survey](https://visionexecutives.com/free-job-survey) - Candidate Services Show submenu for Candidate Services - [Representing You](https://visionexecutives.com/representing-you) - [CV & LinkedIn Writing Service](https://visionexecutives.com/our-packages) - [Our Vacancies](https://visionexecutives.com/vacancies) - News & Insights Show submenu for News & Insights - [Latest News & Articles](https://visionexecutives.com/blog) - [Eyewear & Optics Salary Report](https://visionexecutives.com/eyewear-optical-industry-salary-report) - [Optometrist & Ophthalmologist Salary Report](https://visionexecutives.com/optometrist-ophthalmologist-salary-report) - [Contact](https://visionexecutives.com/contact-us) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [About](https://visionexecutives.com/about-us) - Recruitment Services Show submenu for Recruitment Services - [Retained Recruitment](https://visionexecutives.com/retained-recruitment) - [Contingency Recruitment](https://visionexecutives.com/contingency-recruitment) - [Our Candidates](https://visionexecutives.com/our-candidates) - [FREE Bad Hire Calculator](https://visionexecutives.com/bad-hire-calculator) - [FREE Job Survey](https://visionexecutives.com/free-job-survey) - Candidate Services Show submenu for Candidate Services - [Representing You](https://visionexecutives.com/representing-you) - [CV & LinkedIn Writing Service](https://visionexecutives.com/our-packages) - [Our Vacancies](https://visionexecutives.com/vacancies) - News & Insights Show submenu for News & Insights - [Latest News & Articles](https://visionexecutives.com/blog) - [Eyewear & Optics Salary Report](https://visionexecutives.com/eyewear-optical-industry-salary-report) - [Optometrist & Ophthalmologist Salary Report](https://visionexecutives.com/optometrist-ophthalmologist-salary-report) - [Contact](https://visionexecutives.com/contact-us) - [EYE-INTRO Login](https://vision-executives.i-intro.net/) [EYE-INTRO Login](https://vision-executives.i-intro.net/) # The Ophthalmology Recruitment Crisis: It’s More than Meets the Eye Jun 23, 2025 11:27:22 AM ![Picture of Sophia Kenny](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/2ce040ca4ee27cb3fc5db4f3788e6eb8) [Sophia Kenny](https://visionexecutives.com/blog/author/sophia-kenny) Share: [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://visionexecutives.com/blog/the-ophthalmology-recruitment-crisis-its-more-than-meets-the-eye) [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://visionexecutives.com/blog/the-ophthalmology-recruitment-crisis-its-more-than-meets-the-eye) [twitter icon](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://visionexecutives.com/blog/the-ophthalmology-recruitment-crisis-its-more-than-meets-the-eye) [pinterest-p icon](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://visionexecutives.com/blog/the-ophthalmology-recruitment-crisis-its-more-than-meets-the-eye) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://visionexecutives.com/blog/the-ophthalmology-recruitment-crisis-its-more-than-meets-the-eye) The ophthalmology sector is facing a worrying future, with a reported prediction of a **12% decrease of ophthalmologists by 2035**, while there is a demand for increase by 24%. **What will the future look like?** Rural regions will be left deficient of ophthalmologists due to most specialists practicing in urban areas. Many ophthalmologists are nearing retirement age, meaning that the shortage of those in the field in coming years will be ever increasing. The ruthless and competitive environment is also deterring applicants from eventually becoming ophthalmologists despite being completely qualified, these applicants decide to specialise in other areas. Therefore, often medical students are choosing to choose roles that offer a better work-life balance, to avoid the burnout that both the long educational path and eventual job may cause. Statistics show that in the US, full-time ophthalmologists are expected to decline by 2650 between the years 2020 and 2035, which equates to **a 12% decrease**, and a loss of around 176 ophthalmologists annually. **What are the implications for the UK?** Consultants are not able to see patients quickly enough, with a backlog of people suffering with primarily preventable eye diseases that can be treated. Take Margaret for example, a 78-year-old, who has waited nearly a year for her glaucoma follow up, who would have been able to potentially save her sight, had she been seen three months prior. Unfortunately, this is the case for many patients across the UK, often caused by training positions lacking in interest from young medical students, as well as the aging workforce of ophthalmologists reaching retirement age, in a similar manner to the way the recruitment crisis is currently affecting America. Research from 2023 shows that shockingly, over **632,000 patients** were on ophthalmology waiting lists, **24,000** of whom had been waiting over a year. Below, the bar chart shows the prediction of the consultant workforce in the ophthalmology sector by 2030. ![graphic 1-1](https://visionexecutives.com/hs-fs/hubfs/graphic%201-1.png?width=733&height=733&name=graphic%201-1.png) As shown, the graph presents a significant gap between the projected demand for ophthalmologists against the predicted amount, specifically a minimum requirement of **400.** Furthermore, treatable eye diseases are worryingly increasing, also due to the aging population, such as Cataracts and Glaucoma. Below, the graph shows the increase in patients with both cataracts and glaucoma. **![graphic 2](https://visionexecutives.com/hs-fs/hubfs/graphic%202.png?width=740&height=740&name=graphic%202.png)** The graph shows an undeniable surge of patients suffering with both glaucoma and cataracts. Unfortunately, this graph also suggests that the number of cases is outpacing the supply of ophthalmologists that can treat this. Additionally, both cataracts and glaucoma require ongoing monitoring and often surgical intervention, which therefore puts immense pressure on outpatient and surgical services. Further, there is also the problem of widening healthcare inequalities, those living in deprived areas are more likely to experience delayed diagnosis or surgery. **In summary,** to prevent the demand for ophthalmic specialists increasing, and ensure that patients are receiving treatment on time, the training pipeline needs to be increased and unfortunately, the NHS is facing significant capacity pressures, with over 76% of units not having enough consultants to meet current patient demand. The ophthalmology recruitment crisis presents a significant challenge to the sustainability and quality of eye care services. Addressing this issue requires a multifaceted approach, including improved training opportunities, enhanced work-life balance, and greater investment in recruitment strategies. At **Vision Executives**, our primary role is to recruit optometrists and ophthalmologists, therefore helping to combat the recruitment crisis. If you are looking to hire or looking for a new role within the ophthalmology industry, please get in touch. If you are looking to recruit for Optometrists, Ophthalmologists please contact [@Venus King](mailto:Venus.King@visionexecutives.com) If you are looking to recruit for non clinical staff such as Practice & Operations Managers and many more roles for both ophthalmic & optical practices and groups please contact [@Lewis Robinson](mailto:Lewis.Robinson@visionexecutives.com)   ## Related posts [![](https://visionexecutives.com/hs-fs/hubfs/myopia.jpg?height=200&name=myopia.jpg)](https://visionexecutives.com/blog/myopia-awareness-week-how-the-condition-is-increasingly-affecting-young-people) ## [Myopia Awareness Week: How the Condition is Increasingly Affecting Young People](https://visionexecutives.com/blog/myopia-awareness-week-how-the-condition-is-increasingly-affecting-young-people) ![Picture of Sophia Kenny](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/2ce040ca4ee27cb3fc5db4f3788e6eb8) [Sophia Kenny](https://visionexecutives.com/blog/author/sophia-kenny) May 23, 2025 10:32:01 AM It’s Myopia Awareness Week – a global reminder of the growing short-sightedness epidemic. 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