Geospatial Distribution of Ophthalmologists Older than Age 60 Years Relative to the Prevalence of COVID-19.

Rasendran, Chandruganesh; Haueisen, Alexander J; Wadhwa, Raoul; Singh, Rishi P

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE To evaluate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases as of February 1, 2021 and the proportion of ophthalmologists in the United States older than age 60 years to provide a framework for successful vaccine distribution for the ophthalmology workforce. PATIENTS AND METHODS The Association of American Medical Colleges ophthalmologist workforce dataset (from 2019) for each state was combined with John Hopkins University's COVID-19 tracking data to determine exposure risk for ophthalmologists, especially those older than age 60 years. RESULTS Of the 18,915 practicing ophthalmologists in the US, 37.6% are older than age 60 years. North Dakota (48.4%), Connecticut (46.8%), and Maine (46.7%) have the highest percentages. South Dakota (9,567), Utah (7,559), and Idaho (7,411) currently have the highest COVID-19 exposure burden per ophthalmologist older than age 60 years as of February 1, 2021. CONCLUSION Care must be taken to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine in a safe and proactive manner to ophthalmologists that face high exposure risk, both to ensure physician safety and ensure adequate care for the population they serve. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2021;52:556-559.].