Philadelphia-based Wills Eye Hospital physicians shared their thoughts on the current state of ophthalmology and what the industry can expect in the future with Ocular Surgery News.
More than 200 ophthalmologists responded to OSN's survey, identifying four key trends:
1. Patients don't prioritize preventative eye care, instead visiting specialists only when they have an issue. Ten percent of respondents said patients sought preventative care for their eye health, while only 7.2 percent said patients come in without any serious eye concerns.
2. For most respondents, clinical specialty expertise is the most important factor behind referring a patient.
3. Approximately 61.8 percent of ophthalmologists believe telemedicine will play an active role in the field in the future.
4. Exactly 33.6 percent of ophthalmologists believe genetics in clinical practice will be the biggest change in eye care over the next half decade.