Annual Conference 2026New National Ophthalmology Workforce Report Calls for More Consultants and Expanded Community Eye Care Services to Meet Rising Demand
New National Ophthalmology Workforce Report Calls for More Consultants and Expanded Community Eye Care Services to Meet Rising Demand
Ireland needs more Consultant Ophthalmologists and significantly expanded eye care services in the community if it is to meet growing patient demand, according to a major new national workforce report launched today at the Irish College of Ophthalmologists Annual Conference in Galway.
The Ophthalmology Medical Workforce in Ireland 2025–2040 report was formally launched by Professor Anthony O'Regan, Medical Director of the HSE National Doctors Training and Planning (NDTP) at the conference, which took place in Galway from 13th–15th May 2026.
The report outlines that demand for ophthalmology services will continue to rise sharply over the coming years due to population growth, ageing demographics and increasing rates of chronic eye disease including cataract, glaucoma and macular degeneration.
It highlights that Ireland currently has fewer ophthalmology consultants per capita than many comparable countries and recommends a significant increase in the number of Consultant Ophthalmologists to meet current and future demand.
The report also calls for the continued expansion of community-delivered eye care services through multidisciplinary teams led by Consultant Medical Ophthalmologists, allowing more patients to receive care closer to home while hospitals focus on surgery, urgent treatment and complex care.
At the end of 2024, almost 48,000 patients were waiting for ophthalmology appointments or procedures in acute hospitals, underlining the scale of the challenge.
The publication of this review for the specialty of Ophthalmology in Ireland is the result of collaboration between NDTP, the Irish College of Ophthalmologists, the National Clinical Programme for Ophthalmology, and the Centre for Health Policy and Management in Trinity College Dublin.
Speaking at the launch on Friday 15th May, Professor Anthony O’Regan said;
“Our postgraduate training programmes are a vital pipeline for the sustainability of our future consultant workforce. The principal focus of this report is to provide recommendations around the number of training places at both basic and higher specialty training level in Medical Ophthalmology and Ophthalmic Surgery. These training pathways support the development of a future consultant workforce which is configured with the correct skill mix to serve the needs of
the population in Ireland.”
Ms Aoife Doyle, HSE National Clinical Lead for Ophthalmology and Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, also addressed delegates at the launch:
“This report sets out a clear roadmap for the future of eye care in Ireland. We need to grow our consultant workforce and continue building integrated community services so patients can access timely treatment in the right setting.
The report highlights a critical and growing demand for services, driven by population growth and ageing, which will significantly increase the burden of cataract, glaucoma, and age-related maculopathy as well as other eye conditions. Current workforce capacity is inadequate, with just 2.38 ophthalmologists per 100,000 population—well below European and UK averages—and waiting lists exceeding 47,000 patients across adult and paediatric services.
The successful community eye care pathways already introduced in some regions have reduced waiting times and improved patient access, demonstrating the benefits of integrated models of care. The aim is to provide specialist eyecare in the community with a particular focus on the four main conditions: cataract, paediatric eye care, age related maculopathy and glaucoma. Patients in these regions can access treatment closer to home through multidisciplinary eye care teams led by Consultant Medical Ophthalmologists.”
With Ireland’s population projected to exceed six million by 2040, the report concludes that urgent workforce planning and sustained investment are now required to ensure timely, high- quality eye care services for patients nationwide.
Download HSE NDTP Ophthalmology Medical Workforce in Ireland 2025–2040
ENDS
15th May 2026