A new analysis suggests that access to eye care in the United States has improved—even though the total number of ophthalmologists has slightly declined. The research, published online November 13, 2025, in JAMA Ophthalmology by Peter R. Kastl and colleagues, finds that increased practice locations have made it easier for many Americans to reach an eye specialist more quickly.[1]
The study mapped the distribution of ophthalmologists (MDs) and optometrists (ODs) nationwide—quantifying how far patients must travel to reach a specialist. Compared with earlier data (circa 2014), fewer ophthalmologists overall are practicing, yet significantly more individual practice sites exist. That expansion in location density means that, on average, patients now travel less distance to reach an ophthalmologist than before. The net result is improved geographic access to eye care—even in rural or previously underserved regions.
According to the study authors, the findings challenge a common assumption that fewer ophthalmologists necessarily mean worse access. Instead, the proliferation of practice sites appears to be mitigating that risk.
Still, the report’s authors and the broader community recognize that this isn’t the full story. For example:
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Some states have recently expanded the scope of optometrist practices to include ocular surgeries—raising questions about care standards, continuity, and the risks of procedures like periocular steroid or anesthetic injections
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Access disparities may persist for subgroups: rural patients, those lacking transportation, or people in areas where even expanded practice locations remain sparse
Reference
1. Kastl PR, Senot C, Hegde R. Distribution of Ophthalmologists and Optometrists in the United States, 2014–2024. JAMA Ophthalmology. Published online November 13, 2025. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2025.4495.
