Shortage of Optometrists in Near Future? Maybe!

"A new business research report put optometry top among health-related fields facing labor shortages in the next decade—a claim the National Eye Care Workforce Study does not support," according to an AOA (American Optometric Assn.) post. 'The bottom line is that optometrists continue to be well-positioned to meet the growing needs of Americans for medical eye care.' Published on Sept. 2, the report from the Conference Board—a global business membership and research association—concluded 'among doctors, optometrists and podiatrists are the specialists most at risk of shortage, with the general physicians and surgeons category not far behind.' This is attributable to an overall increase in demand for health care providers due to an aging American population and an overall decrease in supply as practitioners retire, according to the study. The Conference Board labor report tracked 464 occupations in the United States between 2012 and 2022. Earlier this year, a poll concluded the 65-and-older population will surpass the 15-and-younger group by 2030, growing to more than a fifth of the U.S. population for the first time. It's a fact that prompted the update of the AOA's manual, Optometric Care of Nursing Home Residents." Read more.