Industry-Reported Financial Relationships Among American Ophthalmology Society Board Members

To assess financial disclosures of American ophthalmology society board members by comparing self-reported disclosures with industry-reported payments and examining characteristics linked to larger financial relationships.

In this retrospective, cross-sectional study, we assessed all governance board members from American ophthalmology societies in December 2022. Board composition was identified from society websites, payment data from the Open Payments database, and conflict of interest (COI) policies from IRS Form 990 filings. Outcomes included concordance between self- and industry-reported disclosures, payment values, gender and subspecialty differences and academic characteristics.

Among 871 board members from 66 societies, 566 (65.0%) had industry-reported relationships, yet only 22 (2.5%) disclosed COIs on society websites. In 2022, 13 187 payments totaling $57.8 million were reported, with 79.5% related to research. Most societies reported internal COI policies (77.8%) and annual disclosure requirements (75.6%) via IRS filings. Men received significantly higher median payments than women ($217.5 vs. $43.3; p < 0.001). Retina specialists accounted for the largest share of payment value (55.3%), while paediatric ophthalmologists received the least (0.4%). Board members with research payments had higher academic productivity (median h-index: 19 vs. 8; p < 0.001).

Public reporting of board members' financial relationships on ophthalmology society websites was uncommon, likely reflecting differences in society-level disclosure practices rather than individual nondisclosure. These findings underscore an opportunity for societies to enhance transparency by adopting more consistent, transparent COI reporting practices in ophthalmology governance.