Purpose of review To summarize trends in supply and demand for vitreoretinal fellowship positions in the United States, describe applicant characteristics and match outcomes, and discuss future workforce needs and diversity in the field. Recent findings Fellowship applications and positions have increased, with medical and surgical retina programs accounting for the largest share of positions. Despite this growth, match rates have declined, and a persistent portion of positions remain unfilled, likely concentrated among less established or non Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology (AUPO) programs. Predictors of matching include completing more interviews and ranking more programs as well as completing residency training in the United States. Women and individuals underrepresented in medicine remain markedly underrepresented in the vitreoretinal pipeline relative to need. Interest in vitreoretinal fellowship is driven by advanced surgical exposure, perceived prestige, financial considerations, and mentorship during residency. Summary Aligning supply with demand will require expanding high-quality, AUPO-compliant training; improving transparency about medical versus surgical positions; and targeted mentorship/sponsorship to diversify the pipeline. Given projected growth in retinal disease, strategic recruitment and training are essential to ensure equitable access to imaging, injections, laser, and surgery.
Caldwell et al. (Fri,) studied this question.