Decadelong profile of women in ophthalmic publications.
OBJECTIVE
In recent decades, there has been an increase in the number of women practicing medicine. We believe this shift may be reaching academic publications in ophthalmology and changing gender trends.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether there has been an increase in women publishing academic articles and editorials in ophthalmology during the past decade.


METHODS
In this observational retrospective study, 3 ophthalmology journals were sampled from 2000 and 2010 for at least 100 articles per journal, per year, and all editorials published in both years. Data reviewed included the authors' gender, number of authors, number of references, subspecialty, and country of origin.


METHODS
Publication by women authors.


METHODS
The primary outcome measure was an increase in women publishing in ophthalmology. The hypothesis was formulated before data collection.


RESULTS
Our analysis included 671 original articles (336 from 2000 and 335 from 2010) and 89 editorials. The percentage of original articles with a woman as first author increased from 23.2% in 2000 to 32.5% in 2010, a difference of 9.3% (95% CI, 23.3%-32.5%; P = .005). The percentage of original articles with a woman last author increased from 16.4% in 2000 to 24.2% in 2010, a difference of 7.8% (95% CI, 16.4%-24.2%; P = .01). The percentage of original articles with a woman first author increased in Asia from 1.2% in 2000 to 8.4% in 2010, a difference of 7.2% (95% CI, 1.2%-8.4%; P < .001). The percentage of articles with a woman last author increased in Europe from 2.2% in 2000 to 7.5% in 2010, a difference of 5.3% (95% CI, 2.2%-7.5%; P < .001) and in Asia from 0% in 2000 to 6.0% in 2010, a difference of 6.0% (95% CI, 0%-6%; P < .001). Editorials were written predominantly by men: 33 of 38 editorials (87%) in 2000 and 46 of 51 (90%) in 2010, a difference of 3% (95% CI, 87%-90%; P = .62), showing a trend toward decreased editorial authorship by women during the past decade.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest an increase in women publishing original investigations in ophthalmic literature, but no increase in editorial authorship.
Retina Division, Jules Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California2currently with the Retina Department, Association to Prevent Blindness in Mexico, Mexico City.
Valentina
V
Franco-Cardenas
Department of Ophthalmology, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
Jamie
J
Rosenberg
Retina Division, Jules Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California.
Adriana
A
Ramirez
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
Juan
J
Lin
Retina Division, Jules Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California.
Irena
I
Tsui
D001319:Authorship; D015706:Bibliometrics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000639:trends; D010506:Periodicals as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010822:Physicians, Women / Q000639:trends*; D011643:Publishing / Q000639:trends*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000078329:Workforce