title: The number of ophthalmologists in practice and training worldwide: a growing gap despite more than 200,000 practitioners.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the current number of ophthalmologists practicing worldwide in 2010 and to create a system for maintaining, collecting and improving the accuracy of data on ophthalmologists per population, ophthalmologists performing surgery, growth rate of the profession, and the number of residents in training.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between March 2010 and April 2010, the International Council of Ophthalmology emailed a standardised survey of 12 questions to 213 global ophthalmic societies. Missing data and additional information were gathered from direct correspondences with ophthalmologist contacts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total number of ophthalmologists reported was 204,909. Data are presented for 193 countries. Information was obtained from 67 countries on the number of ophthalmologists doing surgery, entering practice, leaving practice, rate of growth and resident training.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The survey results show that despite over 200,000 ophthalmologists worldwide, there is currently a significant shortfall of ophthalmologists in developing countries. Furthermore, although the number of practitioners is increasing in developed countries, the population aged 60+ is growing at twice the rate of the profession. To meet this widening gap between need and supply, it is necessary to aggressively train eye care teams now to alleviate the current and anticipated deficit of ophthalmologists worldwide.
authors.affiliation: International Health and Development, Geneva, Switzerland. serge.resnikoff@gmail.com
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Resnikoff
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Felch
authors.forename: Tina-Marie
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Gauthier
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Spivey
mesh_terms: D019049:Developed Countries; D003906:Developing Countries; D014943:Global Health; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006302:Health Services Research; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007390:International Agencies; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009885:Ophthalmology; D012955:Societies, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce