Disparities in eye clinic patient encounters among patients requiring language interpreter services.

BACKGROUND: Communication barriers are a major cause of health disparities for patients with limited English proficiency (LEP). Medical interpreters play an important role in bridging this gap, however the impact of interpreters on outpatient eye center visits has not been studied. We aimed to evaluate the differences in length of eyecare visits between LEP patients self-identifying as requiring a medical interpreter and English speakers at a tertiary, safety-net hospital in the United States. METHODS: A retrospective review of patient encounter metrics collected by our electronic medical record was conducted for all visits between January 1, 2016 and March 13, 2020. Patient demographics, primary language spoken, self-identified need for interpreter and encounter characteristics including new patient status, patient time waiting for providers and time in room were collected. We compared visit times by patient's self-identification of need for an interpreter, with our main outcomes being time spent with ophthalmic technician, time spent with eyecare provider, and time waiting for eyecare provider. Interpreter services at our hospital are typically remote (via phone or video). RESULTS: A total of 87,157 patient encounters were analyzed, of which 26,443 (30.3%) involved LEP patients identifying as requiring an interpreter. After adjusting for patient age at visit, new patient status, physician status (attending or resident), and repeated patient visits, there was no difference in the length of time spent with technician or physician, or time spent waiting for physician, between English speakers and patients identifying as needing an interpreter. Patients who self-identified as requiring an interpreter were more likely to have an after-visit summary printed for them, and were also more likely to keep their appointment once it was made when compared to English speakers. CONCLUSIONS: Encounters with LEP patients who identify as requiring an interpreter were expected to be longer than those who did not indicate need for an interpreter, however we found that there was no difference in the length of time spent with technician or physician. This suggests providers may adjust their communication strategy during encounters with LEP patients identifying as needing an interpreter. Eyecare providers must be aware of this to prevent negative impacts on patient care. Equally important, healthcare systems should consider ways to prevent unreimbursed extra time from being a financial disincentive for seeing patients who request interpreter services.

ALTMETRIC ANALYSIS OF THE MOST-CITED 100 ARTICLES ON THE RETINA PUBLISHED BETWEEN 2010 AND 2020.

PURPOSE: Altmetric analysis is a way of assessing the social impact of scientific articles. In this study, we aimed to analyze the 100 most-cited articles on the topic of the retina published in ophthalmology journals in traditional metrics and altmetrics. METHODS: The term "retina" was searched in the Web of Science database, and articles published in ophthalmology journals were filtered out. A total of 100 highly cited articles from 2010 to 2020 were evaluated for bibliographic data and altmetrics. First, descriptive statistics and then correlation analysis between traditional bibliographies and altmetrics were performed. RESULTS: According to the Web of Science search, the number of citations of the articles listed in the top 100 list ranged from 809 to 137. The altmetric scores of the articles listed in the top 100 list ranged from 0 to 1,340. There was no statistically significant correlation between the altmetric scores and the number of citations, but there was a statistically weak correlation between the altmetric scores and the average citations per year, H index, impact factor, and number of years since publication. CONCLUSION: Altmetrics is not sufficient to determine the scientific value of articles and can be affected by many factors, unlike traditional bibliometrics. However, being a good communicator in social media can support scientific productivity and create social impact.

Assessment of patient follow-up from student-run free eye clinic to county ophthalmology clinic.

The Ophthalmology Student Interest Group at Indiana University School of Medicine provides a free student-run eye screening clinic for an underserved community in Indianapolis. Patients with abnormal findings are referred to the ophthalmology service of the local county hospital for further evaluation. This retrospective chart review studied 180 patients referred from our free eye clinic to follow up at the ophthalmology service of a local county hospital from October 2013 to February 2020. This study investigated factors impacting follow-up of patients by analyzing demographics, medical history, insurance coverage, and final diagnoses at follow-up. Thirty-five (19.4%) of 180 patients successfully followed up at the local county hospital with an average time to follow-up of 14.4 (± 15.9) months. Mean patient age was 51 (± 13.6) with nearly equal numbers of males and females. The most common diagnoses at follow-up included refractive error (51.4%), cataract (45.7%), and glaucoma (28.6%). Patients with diabetes diagnoses or Healthy Indiana Plan insurance coverage had increased probability of follow-up. This study reveals gaps in timely follow-up to the local county hospital, demonstrating the current limitations of our free clinic in connecting patients to more definitive care and the need for an improved referral process.

Adherence to Urgent Eye Visits during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Population Characteristics Study.

PURPOSE: To explore individual and community factors associated with adherence to physician recommended urgent eye visits via a tele-triage system during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed acute visit requests and medical exam data between April 6, 2020 and June 6, 2020. Patient demographics and adherence to visit were examined. Census tract level community characteristics from the U.S. Census Bureau and zip code level COVID-19 related death data from the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office were appended to each geocoded patient address. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, and logistic regression analyses were performed to explore the effects of individual and community variables on adherence to visit. RESULTS: Of 229 patients recommended an urgent visit, 216 had matching criteria on chart review, and 192 (88.9%) adhered to their visit. No difference in adherence was found based on individual characteristics including: age (p = .24), gender (p = .94), race (p = .56), insurance (p = .28), nor new versus established patient status (p = .20). However, individuals who did not adhere were more likely to reside in neighborhoods with a greater proportion of Blacks (59.4% vs. 33.4%; p = .03), greater unemployment rates (17.5% vs. 10.7%; p < .01), and greater cumulative deaths from COVID-19 (56 vs. 31; p = .01). Unemployment rate continued to be statistically significant after controlling for race and cumulative deaths from COVID-19 (p = .04). CONCLUSION: We found that as community unemployment rate increases, adherence to urgent eye visits decreases, after controlling for relevant neighborhood characteristics. Unemployment rates were highest in predominantly Black neighborhoods early in the pandemic, which may have contributed to existing racial disparities in eye care.

Socioeconomic and Demographic Disparities in the Use of Telemedicine for Ophthalmic Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

PURPOSE: To identify disparities in the use of telemedicine during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study of completed clinical encounters in an academic ophthalmology center from March 2020 through August 2020. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 5023 patients comprising 8116 ophthalmic clinical encounters. METHODS: Medical charts were abstracted for demographic information. We identified zip code-level socioeconomic characteristics, which were drawn from the 2019 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The completion of a synchronous video encounter, the completion of a telephone (audio-only) encounter in the absence of any video encounters, or the completion of in-person encounters only. RESULTS: During the study period, 8116 total clinical encounters were completed for 5023 unique patients. Of these patients, 446 (8.9%) participated in a video encounter, 642 (12.8%) completed a telephone encounter, and 3935 (78.3%) attended clinical appointments in person only. In adjusted analysis, patients who were Black (odds ratio [OR], 0.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.52-0.80; P < 0.001) or Hispanic/Latino (OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.49-0.85; P = 0.002) were significantly less likely to complete a video or telephone appointment. Older patients (OR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.98-0.99; P < 0.001), patients whose primary language was not English (OR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.28-0.82; P = 0.01), Black patients (OR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.32-0.62; P < 0.001), and Hispanic/Latino patients (OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.37-0.83; P = 0.005) were significantly less likely to complete a video encounter. Finally, among patients completing any type of telemedicine encounter, older age, (OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.01-1.03; P < 0.001), Medicare insurance (OR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.11-2.17; P = 0.01), and Black race (OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.33-2.94; P < 0.001) were associated with using only phone visits. CONCLUSIONS: Ethnic/racial minorities, older patients, and non-English-speaking individuals were significantly less likely to complete a video telehealth encounter. With the expansion of telemedicine and the need to reduce the disparate impact of COVID-19 on minorities, it will be increasingly important to identify barriers to telehealth use and opportunities to improve access.

COVID-19: quais motivos levaram os pacientes a procurarem pronto atendimento oftalmológico durante a pandemia? / COVID-19: what reasons led patients to seek emergency care during the pandemic?

RESUMO Objetivo Analisar o motivo pelo qual pacientes procuraram o pronto atendimento oftalmológico durante a pandemia da COVID-19. Métodos Estudo de corte transversal, retrospectivo, realizado a partir da análise de prontuários de pacientes atendidos em um pronto atendimento oftalmológico de um serviço privado da cidade de Santos (SP) entre 11 de março de 2020 e 16 de julho de 2020. Resultados Foram atendidos 386 pacientes no período analisado. A maior parte das consultas (60,36%) deu-se a pessoas do sexo feminino. Pessoas da faixa etária entre 19 e 59 anos foram as que mais procuraram o pronto atendimento (57,25%). Ao se considerar a profissão desses pacientes, estudantes e aposentados apresentaram a mesma proporção (10,26%) seguidos de pessoas do lar (6,99%). Do total de casos atendidos, 59 pacientes foram diagnosticados com conjuntivite, enquanto 58 tiveram diagnóstico de traumatismo de olho e órbita. Conclusão No período analisado, o pronto atendimento oftalmológico recebeu, predominantemente, mulheres na faixa etária entre 19 e 59 anos, e os diagnósticos mais frequentes foram de conjuntivite e trauma.

ABSTRACT Objective To analyze the reason why patients sought emergency eye care during the pandemic of COVID-19. Methods This was a retrospective cross-sectional study based on the analysis of medical records of patients seen at an ophthalmology emergency department of a private service in the city of Santos (SP) between March 11, 2020 and July 16, 2020. Results A total of 386 patients were seen in the analyzed period. Most appointments (60.36%) were attended by women. People between 19 and 59 years old were the ones who most sought the emergency room (57.25%). When considering the profession of these patients, students and retired people presented the same proportion (10.26%), followed by housewives (6.99%). Of the total number of cases seen, 59 patients were diagnosed with conjunctivitis, while 58 were diagnosed with eye and orbit trauma. Conclusion In the analyzed period, the ophthalmology emergency care predominantly received women in the age group between 19 and 59 years old, and the most frequent diagnoses were conjunctivitis and trauma.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ophthalmologic outpatient care: experience from an Italian Tertiary Medical Center.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact the COVID-19-related national lockdown has had on Ophthalmologic Outpatient Care in an Italian Tertiary Medical Centre. METHODS: We reviewed all the performances that were carried out as outpatient services at our department between 1 January 2020 and 30 November 2020. We compared data among four different periods: from 1 January 2020 to 17 March 2020 ("Pre-Lockdown"); from 18 March 2020 to 17 May 2020 (Lockdown); from 18 May 2020 to 2 November 2020 (Post-Lockdown) and from 3 November 2020 to 30 November 2020 (Regional Lockdown). RESULTS: The overall number of performed routine outpatient visits per day (ROVs) was 11,871 (Mean ± SD = 35.76 ± 17.81), whereas booked appointments (BAs) were 21272 (Mean ± SD = 63.86 ± 9.27), meaning a decline in the number of ROVs by 44.01%. (Mean ± SD = 28.10 ± 12.11, p<.001). Post-Lockdown and Regional Lockdown clinical activities, dropped respectively by 31 and 25.14% (38.87 ± 3.88 vs. 56.34 ± 11.06, p<.001 and 6.04 ± 4.51 vs. 56.34 ± 11.06 p<.001). The number of BAs per day decreased during the pandemic, going from a mean of 77.81 ± 2.57 booked appointments per day before the lockdown, to a mean of 53.14 ± 4.94, 61.80 ± 4.62 and 72.07 ± 1.09 appointments per day respectively during the lockdown, the post-lockdown and the regional lockdown periods. CONCLUSIONS: During the various lockdown periods, at our institution the volume of outpatient ophthalmological visits drastically dropped. This testifies the dramatic impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the supply of ophthalmic care.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on public sector ophthalmic work by New Zealand's ophthalmologists.

AIM: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the New Zealand government enforced a nationwide 'alert level 4' lockdown from 26 March to 27 April 2020. We assessed the impact of this lockdown on New Zealand's public ophthalmology service. METHOD: An anonymous online survey was sent to all New Zealand-based fellows of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO) after lockdown. Respondents provided retrospective assessment of practice patterns and their personal health during the COVID-19 lockdown. This was supported by national-level administrative data, allowing survey findings to be contextualised. RESULTS: Fifty-seven respondents (response rate 49%) working in the public health system participated. A large majority of respondents reduced elective clinic and surgical volumes by at least 75% (82% and 98%, respectively). National-level information confirmed clinic reduced to 38.2% of normal and elective operating volumes to 11.5%, with virtual visits increasing 17.9-fold. Elective clinic and elective operating volumes promptly recovered to usual volumes on the second month post lockdown. Most respondents (58%) followed the RANZCO triaging guideline, and 28% triaged emergencies only. At a personal level, respondents reported a significant physical health benefit (p<0.001) associated with the lockdown experience, but no change in mental health or social wellbeing. CONCLUSIONS: Publicly employed ophthalmologists experienced dramatic reductions to elective clinic and operating volumes during the COVID-19 lockdown. The prompt recovery of service delivery volumes back to pre-lockdown levels supports the value of a COVID-19 elimination strategy in New Zealand. Virtual visits for selected patients allowed ongoing management without risking virus transmission.

Impact of neovascular age-related macular degeneration: burden of patients receiving therapies in Japan.

The chronic eye disorder, neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), is a common cause of permanent vision impairment and blindness among the elderly in developed countries, including Japan. This study aimed to investigate the disease burden of nAMD patients under treatment, using data from the Japan National Health and Wellness surveys 2009-2014. Out of 147,272 respondents, 100 nAMD patients reported currently receiving treatment. Controls without nAMD were selected by 1:4 propensity score matching. Healthcare Resource Utilisation (HRU), Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL), and work productivity loss were compared between the groups. Regarding HRU, nAMD patients had significantly increased number of visits to any healthcare provider (HCP) (13.8 vs. 8.2), ophthalmologist (5.6 vs. 0.8), and other HCP (9.5 vs. 7.1) compared to controls after adjusting for confounding factors. Additionally, nAMD patients had reduced HRQoL and work productivity, i.e., reduced physical component summary (PCS) score (46.3 vs. 47.9), increased absenteeism (18.14% vs. 0.24%), presenteeism (23.89% vs. 12.44%), and total work productivity impairment (33.57% vs. 16.24%). The increased number of ophthalmologist visits were associated with decreased PCS score, increased presenteeism and total work productivity impairment. The current study highlighted substantial burden for nAMD patients, requiring further attention for future healthcare planning and treatment development.

The prevalence and break down of narrow anterior chamber angle pathology presenting to a general ophthalmology clinic.

ABSTRACT: To approximate the breakdown of narrow anterior chamber angle conditions, on general ophthalmology clinics, in the predominantly white population of the South East Kent region in the United Kingdom.A review was done of all patients attending a secondary care ophthalmology general clinic over a 3-year period. Patients were assessed with: slitlamp biomicroscopy with indentation gonioscopy; SD optical coherence tomography, Humphrey visual field analyzer, and high frequency ultrasound and categorized into various narrow angle conditions. These were: narrow Van Herrick but open angle; primary narrow angle but nonoccludable; primary angle closure suspect; primary angle closure; chronic narrow angle glaucoma; plateau iris configuration; plateau iris syndrome, and phacomorphic narrow angle.A total of 14,520 patients were referred to the clinic, of those 10,491 attended and were analyzed. Six hundred seventy four (6.4%) of the patients had some form of narrow angle condition in at least 1 eye. The majority of these patients were at relative low risk of pathology such as nonoccludable narrow angles (359/53.3%) and narrow Van Herrick but open angles (93/13.8%). 8.8% of all the narrow angle patients had primary angle closure suspect or primary angle closure. Plateau iris pathology was seen in 68 (10.1%) of patients with 18 (26%) having confirmed plateau iris syndrome after peripheral iridotomy. Phacomorphic pathology was confirmed in 75 (11.1%) patients.Narrow angle patients form a significant proportion (6.4%) of those attending general ophthalmology clinic in the predominantly white population in the South East Kent Region of the United Kingdom. The majority of these (67.1%) are at a relatively low risk of developing acute or chronic angle closure glaucoma. Of the remaining patients 8.8% have primary angle closure suspect or primary angle closure and 2.9% have already progressed to chronic narrow angle closure glaucoma. Plateau iris pathology and phacomorphic glaucoma account for the remainder of the presentations.

Ophthalmic Emergencies and Effects of Different Quarantine Models During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiological features of the patients admitted to our emergency department (ED) during the COVID-19 pandemic in March, April, and May 2020, compare them with the patients in March, April, and May 2019, and to investigate the effect of various quarantine models. MATERIAL AND METHODS The records of 1206 eligible patients were reviewed. Age groups were divided according to their quarantine status. We recorded the reasons for patient presentation to the ED, the average number of patients in age groups according to quarantine days, and the problems reported by patients who presented to the ED according to quarantine days. RESULTS We enrolled 3016 of 3123 patients. The mean age was 36.4±17.3 years in 2019 and 37.8±16.4 years during the pandemic period (P=0.031). While 73.1% of the ED presentations were due to ocular trauma in 2019, it decreased to 70.7% in 2020. The proportion of those who presented to the ED during the weekend was 30.6% in 2019, but decreased to 23.9% in 2020 (<0.001). While 84.8% of trauma patients were ages 19-64 years in 2019, this rate increased to 88.9% during the pandemic (P=0.067). Non-trauma emergencies were more common than trauma emergencies in both periods in those over the age of 65 years. During the pandemic period, admissions to the ED were decreased in the quarantined age groups (P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS The changes in the number and characteristic of admissions for ophthalmic emergencies during the pandemic period may help planning allocation of healthcare personnel and resources in outpatient and emergency clinics.

Research Funding, Income, and Career Satisfaction Among Clinician-Scientists in Ophthalmology in the United States.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to characterize clinician-scientists in ophthalmology and identify factors associated with successful research funding, income, and career satisfaction. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: A survey was conducted of clinician-scientists in ophthalmology at US academic institutions between April 17, 2019, and May 19, 2019. Collected information including 1) demographic data; 2) amount, type, and source of startup funding; first extramural grant; and first R01-equivalent independent grant; 3) starting and current salaries; and 4) Likert-scale measurements of career satisfaction were analyzed using multivariate regression. RESULTS: Ninety-eight clinician-scientists in ophthalmology were surveyed across different ages (mean: 48 ± 11 years), research categories, institutional types, geographic regions, and academic ranks. Median startup funding ranged from $50-99k, and median starting salaries ranged from $150-199k. A majority of investigators (67%) received their first extramural award from the National Eye Institute, mainly through K-award mechanisms (82%). The median time to receiving their first independent grant was 8 years, mainly through an R01 award (70%). Greater institutional startup support (P = .027) and earlier extramural grant success (P = .022) were associated with earlier independent funding. Male investigators (P = .001) and MD degreed participants (P = .008) were associated with higher current salaries but not starting salaries. Overall career satisfaction increased with career duration (P = .011) but not with earlier independent funding (P = .746) or higher income (P = .300). CONCLUSIONS: Success in research funding by clinician-scientists in ophthalmology may be linked to institutional support and earlier acquisition of extramural grants but does not impact academic salaries. Nevertheless, career satisfaction among clinician-scientists improves with time, which is not necessarily influenced by research or financial success.

SUCCESSFUL INTERVENTIONS TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY AND REDUCE PATIENT VISIT DURATION IN A RETINA PRACTICE.

PURPOSE: To reduce the total clinic visit duration among retina providers in an academic ophthalmology department. METHODS: All patient encounters across all providers in the department were analyzed to determine baseline clinic visit duration time, defined as the elapsed time between appointment time and checkout. To increase photography capacity, a major bottleneck identified through root cause analysis, four interventions were implemented: training ophthalmic technicians to perform fundus photography in addition to optical coherence tomographies, relocating photography equipment to be adjacent to examination rooms, procuring three additional Optos widefield retinal photography units, and shifting staff schedules to better align with that of the providers. These interventions were implemented in the clinics of two retina providers. RESULTS: The average baseline visit duration for all patients across all providers was 87 minutes (19,550 patient visits). The previous average visit duration was 80 minutes for Provider 1 (557 patient visits) and 81 minutes for Provider 2 (1,246 patient visits). In the 4 weeks after interventions were implemented, the average visit duration decreased to 60 minutes for Provider 1 and 57 minutes for Provider 2. CONCLUSION: A systematic approach and a multidisciplinary team resulted in targeted, cost-effective interventions that reduced total visit durations.

COVID-19 and Public Interest in Ophthalmic Services and Conditions.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns on public interest in ophthalmology. METHODS: Search interest data for ophthalmic services and conditions were collected from January 1, 2019 to June 21, 2020. Temporal statistical analysis was used to identify significant trends. Weekly data on ophthalmic services and conditions search interest obtained from Google Trends were analyzed with analysis of variance testing and the generalized linear model based on dates. RESULTS: Ophthalmic services searches decreased after the first COVID-19 case in the country (p<0.001); ophthalmic services and conditions search interest also declined after the first COVID-19 case and lockdown orders in each state (p<0.001). Following the first in-state COVID-19 case, search interest in ophthalmic services fell more than for ophthalmic conditions (p=0.0088). Lockdown and COVID-19 had similar effects on ophthalmic services search interest (p=0.2246), but interest in ophthalmic conditions decreased more after lockdown than after the first in-state case (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Most of the decrease in search interest in ophthalmic services was associated with COVID-19 rather than lockdown orders, suggesting that public interest in ophthalmic care may be more sensitive to changes in the COVID-19 pandemic than lockdown orders.

Ophthalmology Departments Remain Among the Least Diverse Clinical Departments at United States Medical Schools.

PURPOSE: The current demographics of the ophthalmology workforce do not reflect the diverse United States population, which has implications for addressing health disparities. The demographics of ophthalmology department faculty may influence the recruitment of underrepresented students into the field. This study sought to determine how the racial and ethnic demographics of ophthalmology department faculty compare with those of other clinical departments at United States medical schools. DESIGN: Secondary data analysis of medical school faculty demographic data from the 2019 American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) Faculty Roster. PARTICIPANTS: Clinical faculty and department chairs at United States medical schools. METHODS: We analyzed the racial and ethnic demographics of clinical department faculty and department chairpersons using data from the 2019 AAMC Faculty Roster. We calculated the proportion of underrepresented minority (URM) faculty in ophthalmology and in 17 other clinical departments. We analyzed these data for statistically significant differences between ophthalmology and other clinical departments. In addition, we compared the percentage of URM ophthalmology faculty with the proportion of URM persons among graduating United States medical students and in the United States population using data from the Medical School Graduation Questionnaire and the United States census, respectively. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The proportion of URM persons, defined as Black, Hispanic or Latino, Native American, or Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander among clinical faculty and department chairs. RESULTS: Ophthalmology faculty are less racially and ethnically diverse than graduating medical students and the general United States population. When compared with 17 other clinical departments, ophthalmology has the third-lowest proportion of URM faculty, with only radiology and orthopedic surgery having a smaller proportion of URM faculty. These differences were statistically significant in most departments (12 of 18). No statistically significant difference was found in the proportion of URM department chairs in ophthalmology compared with most other clinical departments, although the absolute number of URM chairs in ophthalmology is low at only 8 chairpersons. CONCLUSIONS: More work must be done to increase the recruitment of URM physicians into ophthalmology faculty positions to obtain parity with other clinical departments and with the diverse patient populations that physicians serve.

Trends in Female Authorship in Cornea From 2007 to 2019.

PURPOSE: To identify female authorship trends in first author and last author positions in Cornea from 2007 to 2019. METHODS: First and last authors of all Clinical Science and Basic Investigation publications in Cornea over 13 years were sorted by sex. Identification of sex was based on the author's institutional profile or a Google-based name identifier in cases of equivocal names. The proportion of female board-certified ophthalmologists between 2007 and 2019 was collected from the American Board of Ophthalmology total roster of certified diplomats. RESULTS: First and last author sexes were collected from 2313 publications (1837 Clinical Science and 476 Basic Investigation). Between 2007 and 2019, the percentage of female first authors increased from 30.5% to 41.5%, although this change was not significant (P = 0.240). Female last author percentage increased significantly from 14.9% to 26.6% (P = 0.016). The percentage of female American Board of Ophthalmology-certified diplomats also increased significantly from 17.4% to 24.5% (P < 0.001). Similarly, when comparing 2007 and 2008 with 2018 and 2019, we noted a significant increase in the proportion of women in the last author (P < 0.001) but not in the first author (P = 0.208) position. We also identified a significantly higher proportion of female first authors than that of female board-certified ophthalmologists (P < 0.001). Finally, there was a strong association between first author sex and last author sex (P < 0.001) across manuscripts. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of women in last author positions increased over 13 years among manuscripts in Cornea. Despite these advances in academic female representation within the cornea subspecialty, a gender gap in authorship persists.