In just a decade, women have outstripped men to become the clear majority in the GOS workforce. In 2008, 51.2% of optometrists and ophthalmic medical practitioners in England were male. But women now make up 54.9% of practitioners in the field, according to the latest workforce statistics (NHS Digital, 2019). And the profession continues to attract more women: in the 2018-19 enrolment year, 70% of trainees were female. Of course, not all will qualify or go on to practice, but clearly optometry remains an attractive proposition to women. 

So far, no study has specifically investigated these changes, so pinpointing the reasons for this shift is no easy task. What is clear however, is that this split is seen in nearly all medical professions; in some areas, women are now outnumbering men and demanding more recognition and full equality.