Sept. 1, 2023 — The New England College of Optometry (NECO) hosted its third annual NECO Industry Collaborative in Boston, gathering more than 120 health care professionals Aug. 21-22 to network and deliberate on the topic of supply and demand in optometry.
NECO vice president of professional affairs Gary Chu, O.D., MPH, FAAO, opened the event by sharing that demand for optometrists is expected to grow by 8% to 10% and 4% to 7% for ophthalmologists by 2031, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Further, Richard Edlow, known as the Eyeconomist, shared that the need for medical eye exams will increase by 25%, or 15 million additional eye exams annually.
“This is a staggering increase in demand for medical eye care, and while the number of colleges of optometry has increased and [the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry] has implemented the Optometry Gives Me Life campaign, the applicant pool of prospective optometry students has remained nearly flat,” says Dr. Chu.
NECO president and CEO Howard Purcell, O.D., FAAO, shared his concern about the recent Supreme Court ruling overturning affirmative action. “While NECO will absolutely adhere to the law, we also remain committed to continue to close the gaps for optometrists of Black, Latino, Indigenous, and other underrepresented people in optometry so we can best meet the needs of patients,” says Dr. Purcell.
The NECO Industry Collaborative included two student panels—one for newer students and one for those nearing the end of their education or residency, or those who recently started in practice. A third panel covered admissions to graduation, applicant pool expansion, and board exams, as well as the quality, quantity, and diversity of students applying to optometry schools today.
The final panel addressed the potential of telehealth to bridge the gap between supply and demand for eye care.
“There was quite a bit of tension as we debated the topic [of refraction and telehealth] last year,” says Dr. Chu. “This year, the discussion centered around imaging versus dilation in telehealth and the responsibility in leveraging technology to deliver care that is appropriate to meet the demands of while ensuring accessibility.”
According to NECO, telehealth will be one of the tools to help address the increasing demand for eye care.
Other topics covered included mentorship, student debt, scholarships, the breadth of careers for optometrists, business acumen, mental health, opioid addiction, food insecurity, license portability, and the need for rural optometrists.
For more information: neco.edu.