Decadelong Profile of Women in Ophthalmic Publications

Abstract

istorically, all surgical subspecialties, including ophthalmology, have been male-dominated fields. 1,2 Potential reasons for this occurrence include lack of opportunity, lack of role models, lack of exposure to surgical fields, and considerations of work-life balance. 1,2 During the past decade, there has been an increase in the number of women surgical residents in the United States commensurate with the increase in women graduating from medical schools. 3,4 At the same time, it is evident that women in ophthalmology and all fields of academic medicine may not be advancing to senior ranks compared with their male counterparts, even though women are more likely than men to enter academics. 3,4 In addition, there is still a gender difference in the salaries of physician researchers. 5 Other investigators have validated the use of authors' gender in academic medical literature as a surrogate marker of gender imbalance. 6,7 An important component of academia is publications, as they are the main venue for communicating and encouraging diffusion of scientific innovation. Progress in ophthalmology, or any medical specialty, comes from reporting new investigations and clinical findings. The process of authorship, submission to a journal, peer review, acceptance, and publication are the fundamental steps for the introduction of new knowledge into our practices. 8 IMPORTANCE In recent decades, there has been an increase in the number of women practicing medicine. We believe this shift may be reaching academic publications in ophthalmology and changing gender trends.OBJECTIVE To determine whether there has been an increase in women publishing academic articles and editorials in ophthalmology during the past decade. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTSIn this observational retrospective study, 3 ophthalmology journals were sampled from 2000 and 2010 for at least 100 articles per journal, per year, and all editorials published in both years. Data reviewed included the authors' gender, number of authors, number of references, subspecialty, and country of origin.EXPOSURE Publication by women authors. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURESThe primary outcome measure was an increase in women publishing in ophthalmology. The hypothesis was formulated before data collection.

Sex Disparities in Ophthalmic Research

“…Within that time, none of these journals ever had a female editor in chief. 17,18 Like other surgical subjects, ophthalmology has historically been male dominated. 19,20 The pipeline problem 21 describes the phenomenon that despite the increasing number of women entering medicine during the past decade, 22 there is no corresponding increase in women in leadership positions.…”

Differences in Clinical Activity and Medicare Payments for Female vs Male Ophthalmologists

“…A female physician might work fewer hours and see fewer patients during child-rearing years but might increase professional productivity later in life. Because the percentage of women in ophthalmology is much larger among young ophthalmologists, 5 the data in the study by Reddy et al 1 might be skewed toward women who are in childbearing years. An analysis of productivity and physician sex over time would illuminate this question.…”

“…Between 2005 and 2014, a total of 37% of candidates taking the American Board of Ophthalmology Written Qualifying Examination were women. 21 While the present study was not designed to determine what obstacles women in ophthalmology face in the context of parallel disparity in authored publications, 5 federal research funding, 6 industry advisory roles, 22 and editorial advancement, 7,23 there is face validity to the position that women have fewer opportunities to pursue the same economic prospects as men. This finding warrants formal attention.…”

Pakistan Journal of Ophthalmology: A bibliometric review from 2018 – 1995

“…Simultaneously, an observational study conducted to analyze women's participation in original articles and editorials on three ophthalmology journals, which comprised past ten years as academic publications. The study found the participation of female researchers was 671 original articles with 89 editorials 16 . Moreover, a huge study was conducted in ophthalmologic journals indexed in Web of Science (WoS) from 2008 to 2018 to determine the representation of female authorship according to first name, under the title -Sex Disparities in Ophthalmic Research: A Descriptive Bibliometric Study on Scientific Authorships‖.…”