Men and women in optometry. I: Economic issues and professional profiles

Optometry is experiencing a sharp increase in the number of women entering practice. How is this demographic shift likely to affect the profession? This survey was designed to describe current economic and professional profiles of men and women in optometry.

A survey questionnaire was mailed to a nationwide random sample of optometrists, equal numbers of men and women.

Data were analyzed from 353 men and 356 women. Margin of error: +/- 4 percent. On average, women optometrists are younger than men, work 9.4 percent fewer hours, and spend 8.1 percent more time away from their regular professional duties. In 1991 men's optometry income averaged $72,200; women's, $54,400. The income differential persisted after adjusting for age, practice setting, work week, time off, and specialty. Men are more likely to be in solo practice; women in group practice or salaried positions. Similar proportions of men and women are employed in corporate optometry. Few gender differences exist in patient services or other professional activities.

Women optometrists have not yet gained economic equity with men. Male-female similarities in practice patterns suggest that optometry is unlikely to experience major changes in consequence of more women entering the profession.