DATA ON NATIONAL HEALTH RESOURCES Series 14 

Number 9 

Ophthalmology 

Manpower: 

Utilization,of 

SupplementaryPersonnel 

UnitedStates-1968 

Statistics are presentedon the utilization of supplementarypersonnelby the 

clinical practitioner of ophthalmology irithe United Statesin 1968, basedon 

data collected by the National Center for Health Statistics in cooperation 

with the U.S. Bureau of the Censusfrom ophthalmologistsin all 50 States 

and the District of Columbia. Tabulated and describedare indicators of the 

volume and mannerof usageof eight categoriesof supplementarypersonnel 

utilized by ophthalmologists, according to selected demographic and 

professionalcharacteristicsof the users. 

DHEW Publication No. (HSM) 73-1804 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE 

Public Health Service 

Health Services and Mental Health Administration 

National Center for Health Statistics 

Rockville, Md. May 1973 
. e;, 

i*’ 

Vital and Health Statistics-Series 14-No. 9 

For saleby the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing 0503. Washington, D.C. 20402 

Price 76 cents domestic postpaid or 60 cents OPO Bookstore 
NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTH STATISTICS 

THEODORE D. WOOLSEY, Director 

EDWARD B. PERRIN, Ph.D., Deputy Director 

PHILIP S. LAWRENCE, Sc.D., Associate Director 

OSWALD K. SAGEN, Ph.D., Assistant Director for Health Statistics Development 

WALT R. SIMMONS, M.A., Assistant Director for Research and Scientific Development 

JOHN J. HANLON, M.D., Medical Advisor 

JAMES E. KELLY, D.D.S., Dental Advisor 

EDWARD E. MINTY, Executive Officer 

ALICE HAYWOOD, Itiforrktion Officer ‘ I 

DIVISIONOF HEALTHRESOURCESSTATISTICS 

SIEGFRIED A. HOERMANN, Director 

PETER L. HURLEY, Deputy Director 

HENRY S. MOUNT, Chief, He&h Manpower Statistics Brunch 

G. GLORIA HOLLIS, Chief, Health Facilities Statistics Branch 

PETER L. HURLEY, Acting Chief Family P&znning Statistics Branch 

GRACE K. WHITE, Chief, Hospital Discharge Survey Br&zch 

COOPERATION OF THE BUREAU OF THE CENSUS 

Under the legislation establishing the National Health Survey, the Public 

.Hea.lth Service is authorized to use, insofar as possible, the services or 

facilities of other Federal, State, or private agencies. 

In accordance with specifications established by the National Center for 

Health Statistics, the Bureau of the Census, under a contractual arrangement, participated in planning the survey and collecting the data. 

Vitai and Health Statistics-Series 14-No. 9 

DHEW Publication No. (HSM) 73-1804 

Library of Congress Catalog Curd Number 73-600049 
CONTENTS 

Introduction .............................................. 

General Characteristics of the Users of Supplementary Personnel .......... 

Number of Supplementary Personnel Utilized ...................... 

Supplementary Personnel Utilized-Type and Basis of Utilization .......... 

General ........................... ..1................ 

Utilization of Secretaries, Receptionists, and Other Administrative 

Personnel ............................................ 

Utilization of Nursing Personnel (RN’s, LPN’s, and LVN’s) ............. 

Utilization of Ophthalmic Medical Assistants (General 

and Refractive) ....................................... 

Utilization of Optical Fitters (Including Opticians) .................. 

Utilization of Optical Technicians (Laboratory, Ophthalmic, 

or Contact Lens Technicians) .............................. 

Utihzation of Orthoptists .................................. 

Utilization of Other Clinical Assistants .......................... 

Utilization of Optometrists (Performing Refractions and 

Prescribing Lenses on Own Authority) ......................... 

Associates Sharing the Services of Supplementary Personnel ............. 

List of Detailed Tables ...................................... 

Appendix I. Technical Notes ................................ 

Data Collection ......................................... 

Processing of Data ........................................ 

Adjustments ........................................... 

The User of Supplementary Personnel-A Subuniverse ............... 

Appendix II. Definitions of Terms ............................. 

DemographicTerms ...................................... 

Terms Relating to Ophthalmology ....... : ..................... 

Appendix III. Survey Questionnaires ............................ 

Doctor of Medicine Questionnaire ............................. 

Doctor of Osteopathy Ouestionnaire ........................... 

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0PH;THALMOLOGY MANPOWER: 

UTILIZATION OF SUPPLEMENTARY PERSONNEL 

Hugo K. Koch, M.H.A., Division of Health Resources b3tatistics 

INTRODUCTION 

This report is the third in a series of three 

reports on ophthalmological manpower in the 

United States in 1968. It presents data on the 

utilization of supplementary personnel by the 

clinical practitioner of ophthalmology. Statistics 

reported in these pages are chiefly the product 

of a survey of ophthalmologists, one of three 

national surveys of manpower in the eye-care 

occupations conducted by the National Center 

for HeaIth Statistics between May 1968 and 

June 1969. Optometrists and opticianry personnel, also surveyed in this national effort, are the 

subjects of separate reports. (See appendix HI 

for facsimiles of the questionnaires used to 

survey M.D. and osteopathic ophthalmologists.) 

Figures used. in the three reports on 

ophthalmological manpower reflect the application of a statistical adjustment designed to 

compensate for various types of nonresponse to 

the survey. (See appendix I for a discussion of 

the methodological considerations that entered 

into this adjustment.) 

The adjustment yielded a figure of 8,616 for 

ophthalmologists active in their profession at the 

time of the 1968 survey. About 97 percent of 

this total (8,327 ophthalmologists) were “clinically” active in the sense that they devoted at 

least s.ome part of their weekly professional 

effort to the direct diagnosis and treatment of 

eye patients. Of the 8,327 clinical ophthalmologists, about 95 percent (7,882 practitioners) reported that they utilized the services of 

supplementary personnel in one or more of the 

eight categories listed in the next paragraph. It is 

these 7,882 users of supplementary personnel 

that are the chief subjects of the tabular data 

and textual commentary presented in this 

report. 

For reporting purposes, supplementary personnel utilized by the clinical practitioner are 

grouped into eight categories as follows: 

1. Secretaries, receptionists, and other administrative personnel 

2. Nursing personnel (registered nurses 

(RN’s), licensed practicg nurses (LPN’s), 

and licensed vocational nurses (LVN’s)) 

3. Ophthalmic medical assistants (general and 

refractive) 

4. Optical fitters (including opticians)’ 

5. Optical technicians (laboratory, ophthalmic, or contact lens technicians) 

6. Orthoptists 

7. Other clinical assistants 

1 
8. Optometrists (performing refractions and 

prescribing lenses on own authority) 

Survey respondents were requested to specify 

the basis on which they utilized personnel in any 

given category. The following four bases of utilization were possible. 

1. Full-time utilization (35 hours or more per 

week); services of supplementary personnel not shared with associates 

2. Full-time utilization; services shared with 

associates 

3. Part-time utilization (fewer than 35 hours 

per week) ; services of supplementary personnel not shared with associates 

4. Part-time utilization; services shared with 

associates 

Therefore, when the designation “user of supplementary personnel” appears in the text and 

tables that follow, it refers to a clinically active 

ophthalmologist who utilized the services of one 

or more of the eight types of supplementary-personnel in one or more of the four possible 

conditions of utilization. 

The text is accompanied by 21 detailed 

tables. Methodology employed in the collection 

and processing’of the survey data, definitions of 

terms, and facsimiles of the survey questionnaires are given in appendixes I, II, and III, 

respectively. 

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF 

THE USERS OF SUPPLEMENTARY 

PERSONNEL 

A total of 7,882 clinically active ophthalmologists reported that they used the services 

of supplementary personnel. About 97 percent 

of the users were male. The median age of users 

was 50.3 years, roughly 1 year less than the 

median age of 51.4 years reported for the entire 

universe of active ophthalmologists. 

Geographically, users were distributed as 

follows: 

New England ........................... 

Middle Atlantic ......................... 

East North Central ....................... 

West North Central ....................... 

South Atlantic .......................... 

East South Central ....................... 

West South Central ....................... 

Mountain ..... .' ....................... 

Pacific ............................... 

6.3 

20.8 

17.7 

7.2 

13.8 

4.6 

8.4 

4.9 

16.4 

Users were divided among six principal forms of 

employment: 

Percent 

Principal form of practice or employment of total 

users 

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Self-employed: 

Solo practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Partnership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Group practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Nongroup arrangement with other physicians . . . 

Salaried: 

Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.6 

Nonhospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.0 

Certain professional characteristics of the user 

are brought into sharper focus when they are 

directly contrasted with corresponding characteristics of the 445 clinically active ophthalmologists who reported that they did not utilize 

supplementary personnel. 

For example, the typical user reported about 

104 visits by eye patients per week, more than 

twice the number (46 visits) reported by the 

typical non-user. The typical user saw roughly 

90 patients in the course of a week, again more 

than twice the number (37 patients) reported by 

the typical non-user. 

Table A contrasts the volume of clinical activity of the user and the non-user by the extent to 

which each renders nine selected patient services. The reader may note the direct relationship 

between use.of supplementary personnel and the 

2 
Table A. Percent of users and non-users of supplementary 

personnel, by selected patient services: United States, 1968 

- -

Percent Percent. 

Patient service of of 

users ion-users 

Diagnostic examination (includes 

tonometry) ................. 99.6 97.8 

Medical treatment ............... 98.1 95.5 

Eye surgery ................... 90.6 60.5 

Visual field examination and medical 

interpretation ................ 94.5 789 

Fitting contact lenses ......... : ... 60.1 22.5 

Orthoptic training ............... 33.5 15.0 

Prescribing low vision aids .......... 56.3 30.0 

Aniseikonic testing .............. 9.6 6.5 

Tonography ................... 50.1 44.5 

tendency to render any given patient service. 

For several of the services (e.g., “fitting contact 

lenses” and “orthoptic training”) the reliance on 

supplementary personnel is especially evident. 

judging by number of services rendered, without regard for the time or degree of sophistication involved in the performance of each service, about 82 percent of all users reported 

rendering five patient services or more as opposed to about 51 percent of all non-users. 

NUMBER OF SUPPLEMENTARY 

PERSONNEL UTILIZED 

The typical ophthalmologist who used supplementary personnel in the United States in 1968 

reported utilizing the services of 2.2 persons (a 

median figure). Variations from this median can 

perhaps be more meaningfully analyzed if fractions are discarded and, in their place, user 

experience is reported by two categories: 

User Category I -ophthalmologists who reported utilizing fewer than 

three supplementary personnel. 

User Category II-ophthalmologists who reported utilizing three supplementary personnel or 

more. 

Figure 1 shows the result of applying this 

categorization to the reporting of user experience by the region in which the using ophthalREGION 

61.4 Northeast 38.6 

South 56.3 west 57.3 

North 

Central 

I I I I I I I I I I 

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 

PERCENT DISTRIBUTION 

User Category I: Ophthalmologists utilizing fewer 

than three supplementary personnel. 

User Category I I: Ophthalmologists utilizing three 

cl supplementary personnel or more. 

Figure 1. Percent distribution of users of supplementary personnel in User Categories I and II, by region of practice: United 

States, 1968. 

mologist practiced. As may be seen, the majority 

of users practicing in the Northeast Region fell 

in User Category I. The tendency to utilize 

fewer than three personnel was not shared by 

users in the South, West, and North Central 

Regions, where-in roughly equivalent proportions for all three regions-the majority of respondents tended to utilize three supplementary 

assistants or more. 

In figure 2, use of supplementary personnel is 

graphically related to the age of the user. The 

tendency to utilize three or more personnel, reported by a majority of respondents in the three 

younger age intervals and strongest among users 

aged 35-54 years, is seen to decline among users 

aged 55 years and over until, among respondents 

aged 64 years and over, a significant majority 

(65.8 percent) reported utilizing fewer than 

three supplementary helpers. 

Figures 3 and 4 reveal the relationship between number of personnel utilized and two 

indicators of the volume of the user’s clinical 

activity, namely, number of patient visits and 

number of patient services rendered. From both 

figures, the reader will conclude that the tendency to utilize larger numbers of personnel 

3 
AGE 

Under 35 years -I 54.5 

35.44 years 60.6 

41.2 45.54 years 

58.8 

52.8 55.64 years 47.2 

65.8 

34.2 

III III1 I I I 

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 

PERCENT DISTRIBUTION 

User Category I: Ophthalmologists utilizing fewer 

than three supplementary personnel. 

User Category I I: Ophthalmologists utilizing three 

supplementary personnel or more. 

Figure 2. Percent distribution of users of supplementary personnel *in User Categories I and II, by age of user: United States, 

1968. 

varied in direct proportion to increased clinical 

activity by the practitioner. As patient visits and 

services increased in number, so did the proportion of users who reported utilizing more than 

two supplementary helpers. 

Table B reports utilization of supplementary 

personnel according to the principal type of employment engaged in by the using practitioner. 

The largest single number of using practitioners 

(5,321) reported that they were self-employed 

in solo practice. A clear ma jority of this group 

(62.7 percent) reported utilizing the services of 

fewer than three supplementary personnel. However, in every other type of employment, selfemployed or salaried, ophthalmologists utilizing 

three personnel or more were in the ma jority. 

The most prominent of the groups utilizing 

three personnel or more were ophthalmologists 

who were self-employed in partnerships and 

those who were self-employed in group practice. 

Table C shows the relationship between use.of 

supplementary helpers and the nature of the 

patient service provided by the user. The nine 

patient services considered are the same as those 

shown in table A and figure 4. The first four of 

these services were, by a substantial margin, the 

most frequently performed. They are the professional services which ,one traditionally associates 

with the clinical role of the ophthalmologist, 

services which, in most cases, can only be legally 

performed by the medical practitioner. For purposes of reporting, these have been called 

“expected” services. The other five services can 

be performed by other vision-care professionals. 

For purposes of reporting, they have been called 

“additional” services. A direct relationship is evident between the provision of the additional 

services and the tendency to make increased use 

of supplementary personnel. 

r PATIENT VISITS 

WEEKLY 

Under 40 

40-79 

49.6 80.119 50.4 

120.159 64.5 

160.199 71.2 

200 and over 

I I I I I I I I II 

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 

PERCENT DISTRIBUTION 

User Category I: Ophthalmologist?. utilizing fewer 

than three supplementary personnel. 

User Category II: Ophthalmologists utilizing three 

cl supplementary personnel or more. 

L 

Figire 3. Percent distribution of users of supplementary personnel in User Categories I and II, by tiumber of patient visits 

weekly: United States, 1968. 

4 
3 

NUMBER 

OF 

PATIENT 

SERVICES 

RENDERED 

l-2 

61.7 34 

5.6 

7-B 62.9 

9 or more 

II I III III 

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 

PERCENT DISTRIBUTION 

User Category I: Ophthalmologists utilizing 

than threesupplementary personnel. 

I 

80 90 100 

fewer 

Table C. Number of users rendering patient services and percent utilizing fewer 

than three personnel and percent utilizing three personnel or more, by type 

of patient service rendered: United States, 1968 

,. . 

Type of patient service rendered 

Expected services: 

Diagnostic examination (includes 

tonometry) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Medical treatment . . . . . . . . . . . 

Eye surgery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Visual field examination and 

medical interpretation . . . . . . 

Additional services: 

Fitting contact lenses . _ . . . . . . _ 

Orthopric training . . . . . . . . . . . 

Prescribing low vision aids . _ . . . . 

Aniseikonic testing . _ _ . . . . . . . 

Tonographv . . . . . . . . . . . . _ _ _ 

7,847 47.4 52.6 

7,729 47.0 53.0 

7,130 44.7 55.3 

7,451 46.7 53.3 

4,733 40.2 59.8 

2,643 38.2 61.8 

4,438 42.7 57.3 

757 38.8 61.2 

3,950 1 40.3 59.7 

User Category II: Ophthalmologists utilizing three 

supplementary personnel or more. 

Figure 4. Percent distribution of supplementary personnel in 

User Categories I and II, by number of services rendered: 

United States, 1968. 

Table 6. Number of users of supplementary personnel and percent utilizing 

fewer than three personnel and percent utilizing three personnel or more, 

by user’s principal type of employment: United States, 1968 

I I I 

Percent Percent 

User’s principal type Number utilizing utilizing 

of employment of users fewer than 3 personnel 

Self-employed: 

Solo practice . _ . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Partnership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Group practice . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Nongroup arrangement with other 

physicians . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Salaried: 

Hospital’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Nonhospital’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

3 personnel or more 

5,321 62.7 37.3 

1,376 11.2 88.8 

477 12.2 87.8 

344 22.7 77.3 

130 42.2 57.8 

23.4 76.7 

’ Includes nongovernment hospitals and city, county. State, and Federal 

gwernment hospitals. 

’ Includes medical schools; city, county, State, a?d Federal agencies; and 

other (all types of insurance carriers, pharmaceutical companies, voluntary 

organizations, medical societies, associations,and so forth). 

SUPPLEMENTARY PERSONNEL UTILIZED­

.TYPE’AND BAStSOF UTILIZATION 

General 

An examination of the total utilization of 

supplementary personnel revealed that about 

49 percent of all reports of utilization were 

for secretaries, receptionists, and other 

administrative personnel. 

16 percent were for nursing personnel (RN’s, 

LPN’s, and LVN’s). 

12 percent were for ophthalmic medical assistants (general and refractive). 

9 percent were for 0pticaI fitters (including 

opticians). 

7 percent were for optical technicians (laboratory, ophthalmic, or contact lens 

technicians). 

3 percent were for orthoptists. 

2 percent were for other clinical assistants. 

1 percent were for. optometrists (performing 

refractions and prescribing lenses on their 

own authoritv) . 

6 
An overall analysis of the basis on which supplementary personnel were utilized showed that, 

in order of preference, about 

47 percent of all reports of utilization were 

for full-time, unshared personnel. 

34 percent were for full-time, shared 

personnel. 

12 percent were for part-time, unshared 

personnel. 

percent were for part-time, shared 

personnel. 

Full-time utilization was clearly preferred to 

part-time. About 80 percent of all reports of 

utilization specified the former, about 20 percent the latter. 

Unshared utilization of supplementary personnel was preferred to sharing personnel with 

associates. About 59 percent of all reports of 

utilization specified the former, about 41 percent the latter. 

Figure 5 shows the percentage of utilization 

of each type of supplementary personnel on a 

full-time, unshared basis. 

Figure 6 offers similar information on the 

utilization of supplementary personnel on a 

full-time, shared basis; figure 7 on a part-time, 

unshared basis; and figure 8 on a part-time, 

shared basis. 

Utilization of Secretaries, Receptionists, 

and Other Administrative Personnel 

.There were 9,389 reports of utilization of 

secretaries, receptionists, and other administrative personnel (tables 3,4, and 12). Full-time, 

unshared utilization was the most popular way 

of utilizing this type of personnel; the least 

popular was part-time, shared. In order of preference about 

52 percent of the reports of utilization of 

secretaries, receptionists, and other administrative personnel specified utilization on a 

full-time, unshared basis. 

26 percent specified utilization on a full-time, 

shared basis. 

TYPE OF SUPPLEMENTARY 

PERSONNEL UTILIZED 

Ophthalmic medical assistants 

(general and refractive) 

Secretaries, receptionists, and other 

administrative personnel d , 

51.9 

Nursing personnel (RN’s, LPN’s, 46.9 and LVN’sl 

‘. 

Optical fitters (including opticians) 44.6 

Other clinical assistants 37.6 

Optometrists (performing refractions 

and prescribing lenses on 31.5 

own authority) 

Optical technicians (laboratory, 26.4 

ophthalmic, contact lens1 

Onhoptists 14.4 

I I I . I 

0 20 40 60 100 

PERCENT OF UTILIZATION 

(Full-time, unshared basis) 

Figure 5. Percent of reports of utilization for each type of 

supplementary personnel specifying full-time, unshared utilization: United States, 1966. 

15 percent specified utilization on a part- ’ 

time, unshared basis. 

7 percent specified utilization on a part-time, 

shared basis. 

Shared utilization was generally less common 

for secretaries, receptionists, and other administrative personnel than it was for the other categories of supplementary personnel. 

In terms of number utilized; a clear majority 

(73.4 percent) of the 4,873 full-time, unshared 

reports of utilization specified utilization of 

only one such helper. 

In terms of age of the dphthalmologists who 

reported utiIizati,on of secretaries, receptionists, 

and other administrative personnel, the median 

age of those who utilized such helpers on, a fulltime, unshared basis was about 52 years, which 

was appreciably higher than the median age (45 

years) of those who utilized this type of personnel on a full-time, shared basis. The tendency for 

sharers to be appreciably younger than non6 

7 
TYPE OF SUPPLEMENTARY 

PERSONNEL UTILIZED 

Orthoptists 

Optical fitters (including opticians) 

Optometrists (performing refractions 

end prescribing lenses on own 

authority) 

Optical technicians (laboratory, 

ophthalmic, contact lens) 

Other clinical assistants 

Nursing personnel (RN’s, LPN’s, 

and LVN’s) 

Ophthalmic medical a&tents 

(general and refractive) 

Secretaries, receptionists, and other 

administrative personnel 

C I

u 50.6 

47.1 

I 46.4 

I 43.6 

) 41.2 

k 38.9 

0 20 40 60 100 , 

FERCENT OF UTILIZATION 

(Full-time. shared basis1 

47 percent of the reports of the utilization of 

* nursing personnel specified utilization on a 

full-time, unshared basis. 

39 percent specified utilization on a full-time, 

shared basis (a relatively higher proportion 

than the one noted for administrative per­

, sonnel). 

8 percent specified utilization on a part-time, 

unshared basis. 

6 percent specified utilization on a part-time, 

shared basis. 

In terms of the number utilized, a clear ma jority (about 87 percent) of the full-time, unshared 

reports of utilization specified utilization of 

only one such helper. 

It is perhaps noteworthy that the shared utilization of nursing personnel was most common 

Figure 6. Percent of reports of utilization of each type of 

supplementary personnel specifying full-time, shared utilization : United States, 1958. 

sharers appeared general for all types of supplementary personnel considered. 

An analysis of the forms of employment reported by users of secretaries, receptionists, and 

other administrative personnel revealed that 

about 88 percent of ophthalmologists who used 

such helpers on a .full-time, unshared basis were 

self-employed in solo practice. Of the ophthalmo logists who reported using such personnel on 

a full-time, shared basis, the largest single group 

(about 49 percent of the total) was selfemployed and practicing in partnerships. 

Utilization of Nursing Personnel 

(RN’s, LPN’s, and LVN’s) 

There were 3,101 reports of utilization of 

nursing personnel (RN’s, LPN’s, and LVN’s) 

(tables 3, 5, and 13). Full-time, unshared utilization was the most popular way of utilizing this 

type of persqnnel; the least popular was parttime, shared. In order of preference about 

among ophthalmologists 

Region. 

TYPE OF SUPPLEMENTARY 

PERSONNEL UTILIZED 

Optical technicians (laboraton/, 

ophthalmic, contact lens) 

Secretaries, receptionists, and other 

administrative personnel 

Onhoptists 

Optometrists (performing refractions 

and prescribing lenses on own 

authority) 

Other clinical assistants 

Nursing personnel (RN’s, LPN’s, and 

LVN’s) 

Ophthalmic medical assistants 

(general and refractive) 

Optical fitters (including opticians) 

in the North Central 

16.2 F15.0 

12.7 

P 12.2 

0 10 20 100 

PERCENTOF UTILIZATION 

(Part-time, unshared basis) 

Figure 7. Percent of reports for utilization of each type of 

supplementary personnel specifying part-time, unshared utilization: United States, 1968. 

7 
shared utilization was the most popular way of TYPE OF SUPPLEMENTARY 

PERSONNEL UTILIZED 1I .utilizing this type of personnel; the least popular 

part-time, shared. In order of preference 

Orthoptists 22.3 

Optical technicians (laboratory. 

ophthalmic, contact lens) 

Other clinical assistants 

Optometrists (performing 

refractions and prescribing 9.9 

lenses on own authority) c 

Secretaries, receptionists, and 

other administrative 

personnel 

Nursing personnel (RN’s, LPN’s, 

and LVN’s) 

Ophthalmic medical assistants 

(general and refractive) 

Optical fitters (including 3.8 

opticians) c 

I I I I 

0 10 20 30 100 

PERCENTOF UTILIZATION 

(Part.time, shared basis) 

Figure 8. Percent of reports of utilization of each type of 

supplementary personnel specifying part-time, shared utilization : United States, 1968. 

In terms of the age of ophthalmologists utilizing nursing personnel, there was a tendencyalready observed in the utilization of secretaries, 

receptionists, and other administrative personnel-for sharers to be appreciably younger than 

nonsharers. For example, the median age was 

about 54 years for users of full-time, unshared 

nursing personnel and about 46 years for users 

of full-time, shared nursing personnel. 

The ma jority of ophthalmologists who utilized nursing personnel on a full-time, unshared 

basis (about 74 percent) was self-employed in 

solo practice. Of those who utilized nursing personnel on a full-time, shared basis, the largest 

single group (about 49 percent of the total) was 

self-employed and practicing in partnerships. 

Utilization of Ophthalmic Medical Assistants 

(General and Refractive) 

There were 2,268 reports of utilization of 

ophthalmic medical assistants (general and refractive) (tables 3, 6, and 14). Full-time, un8 

was 

about 

53 percent of the reports of utilization of 

ophthalmic medical assistants specified 

utilization on a full-time, unshared basis. 

35 percent specified utilization on a full-time, 

’ shared basis. 

s percent specified utilization on a part-time, 

unshared basis. 

4 percent specified utilization on a part-time, 

shared basis. 

Geographically, the percents of all reports of 

utilization of ophthalmic medical assistants were 

as follows: 

Region Percent 

South . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31.6 

North Central . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26.1 

West................................. 24.9 

Northeast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17.5 

In terms of the number utilized, the largest 

single group (about 43 percent) of the full-time, 

unshared reports of utilization specified the 

utilization of only one such helper. 

Judging from reports of utilization, ophthalmo logists who shared the services of ophthalmic 

medical assistants with associates tended to be 

younger (median age was about 44 years) than 

those who utilized unshared personnel (median 

age was 49 years). 

The ma jority of ophthalmologists who utilized ophthalmic medical assistants on a full-time, 

unshared basis (about 78 percent) was self-employed in solo practice. Of those who utilized 

ophthalmic medical assistants on a full-time, 

shared basis, the largest single group (about 54 

percent of the total) was self-employed and 

practicing in partnerships. 

Utilization of Optical Fitters 

(Including Opticians) 

There were 1,794 reports of utilization of 

optical fitters (including opticians) (tables 3, 7, 
and 15). Full-time, shared utilization was the 

most popular way of utilizing this type of personnel; the least popular was part-time, shared. 

In order of preference about 

47 percent of reports of utilization of optical 

fitters specified utilization on a full-time, 

shared basis. 

45 percent specified utilization on a full-time, 

unshared basis. 

4% percent specified utilization on a parttime, unshared basis. 

4 percent specified utilization on a part-time, 

share’d basis. 

Geographically, the percents of ah reports of 

utilization of optical fitters were as follows: 

Region Percent 

North Central .......................... 31.6 

South ................................ 30.2 

West ................................. 26.5 

Northeast ............................. 1 1.6 

In terms of the number of optical fitters utilized by the typical respondent, the largest single 

group (about 49 percent) of the full-time, shared 

reports of utilization specified shared utilization 

of only one such helper. 

As with the users of the other types of supplementary personne1 discussed above, sharers of 

optical fitters tended to be younger than users 

of unshared personnel (table 15). 

The majority of ophthalmologists who utilized optical fitters on a full-time, shared basis 

(about 52 percent of the total) was selfemployed and practicing in partnerships. 

Utilization of Optical Technicians 

(Laboratory, Ophthalmic, or Contact Lens 

Technicians) 

There were 1,263 reports of utilization of 

optical technicians (laboratory, ophthalmic, or 

contact lens technicians) (tables 3, 8, and 16). 

As noted for optical fitters, full-time, shared 

utilization was the most popular manner of utiking these types of optical technicians, and parttime, shared was the least popular. In order of 

preference about 

44 percent of reports of utilization of optical 

technicians specified utilization on a fulltime, shared basis. 

26 percent specified utilization on a full-time, 

unshared basis. 

18 percent specified utilization on a parttime, unshared basis-a more extensive 

part-time, unshared utilization than that 

reported for any other type of supplementary personnel. 

12 percent specified utilization on a parttime, shared basis; this represented a more 

extensive part-time, shared utilization than 

that reported for any other type of supplementary personnel except orthoptists. 

The tendency toward part-time utihzation 

(shared and unshared) was more pronounced for 

these types of optical technicians than it was for 

any other type of supplementary personnel. 

Geographically, the percents of all reports of 

utilization of optical technicians were as 

follows: 

Region Percent 

North Central .......................... 30.8 

South ................................ 27.3 

West ................................. 25.5 

Northeast ............................. 16.6 

In terms of the number of optical technicians 

utilized by the typical user-respondent, the 

largest single group (about 68 percent of the 

full-time, shared reports of utilization) specified 

shared utilization of only one such helper. 

As with users of ah other types of supplementary personnel, ophthalmologists who 

shared optical technicians with their associates 

tended to be younger than those who did not 

(table 16). -

About 51 percent of the total ophthalmologists who utilized optical technicians on a fulltime, shared basis were self-employed and practicing in partnerships. 

9 
Utilization of Orthoptists 

There were 646 reports of utilization of 

,orthoptists (tables 3, 9, and 17). Shared utilization (both full-time and part-time) was the 

most popular way of utilizing this type of personnel; unshared utilization (full-time and parttime) was markedly less common. In order of 

preference about 

51 percent of reports of utilization of orthoptists specified utilization on a full-time, 

shared basis-a more extensive full-time, 

shared utilization than that reported for 

any other type of supplementary 

personnel. 

22 percent specified utilization on a parttime, shared ba.si+again, a more extensive 

part-time, shared utilization than that reported for any other type of supplementary personnel. 

14 percent specified utilization on a full-time, 

unshared basis. 

13 percent specified utilization on a parttime, unshared basis. 

Geographically, the .percents of all reports of 

utilization of orthoptists were as follows: 

Region Percent 

North Central .......................... 29.7 

South ................................ 29.4 

West ................................. 22.1 

Northeast ............................. 189 

In terms of the number of orthoptists utilized 

by the typical user, the largest single group 

(about 83 percent of the full-time, shared reports of utilization) specified shared utilization 

,of only one such helper. 

Showing a tendency common to users of all 

types of supplementary personnel, ophthalmologists who shared orthoptists with associates 

tended to be younger than users of unshared 

personnel (table 17). 

The largest single group of ophthalmologists 

who utilized orthoptists on a full-time, shared 

basis (about 32 percent of the total) was self-employed and practicing in partnerships. 

Utilization of Other C!inical Assistants 

There were 439 reports of utilization of other 

clinical assistants (tables 3, 10, and 18). Fulltime, shared utilization was the most popular 

way of utilizing this type of personnel. Parttime, unshared and part-time, shared utilization 

were reported with nearly equal frequency and 

were the least popular methods of utilization. In 

order of preference about 

41 percent of the reports of utilization of 

other clinical assistants specified utilization 

on a full-time, shared basis. 

38 percent specified utilization on a full-time, 

unshared basis. 

11 percent specified utilization on a parttime, unshared basis. 

10 percent specified utilization on a parttime, shared basis. 

Geographically, the percents of all reports of 

I 

utilization of other clinical assistants were as 

follows: 

Region Percent 

South ................................ 37.8 

North Central ........................... 24.6 

West ................................. 19.8 

Northeast ............................. 17.5 

In terms ‘of the numbers of other clinical assistants utilized on a full-time, shared basis, 

about 55 percent of the reports of utilization 

specified one such shared helper; about 17 percent specified two; about 6 percent specified 

three; and a relatively high proportion (about 22 

percent) specified the utilization of four or 

more. 

The largest single group of ophthalmologists 

who utilized other clinical assistants ‘on a fulltime, shared basis (about 36 percent of the total) was self-employed and practicing in partnerships. It is noteworthy that the second largest 

group (about 28 percent of all reports of the 

utilization of other clinical assistants) was ophthalmologists engaged in group practice. 

10 
Utilization of Optometrists 

(Performing Refractions and Prescribing Lenses 

on Own Authority) 

There were 222 reports of utilization of optometrists (performing refractions and prescribing lenses on own authority) (tables 3, 11, and 

19). Full-time, shared utilization was the most 

popular manner of utilizing this type of personnel; the least popular method was part-time, 

shared. In order of preference about 

46 percent of reports of utilization of optometrists specified utilization on a fulltime, shared basis. 

3.2 percent specified utilization on a full-time, 

unshared basis. 

12 percent specified utilization on a parttime, unshared basis. 

10 percent specified utilization on a parttime, shared basis. 

Geographically, the percents of all reports of 

utilization of optometrists were as follows: 

Region Percent 

NorthCentral .......................... 37.4 

West ................................. 33.3 

Northeast .............................. 22.1 

South ................................ 7.2 

In terms of the numbers of optometrists utilized on a full-time, shared basis, a clear majority 

of about 81 percent of the reports of utilization, 

specified only one such helper. 

Of ophthalmologists who utilized optometrists on a full-time, shared basis, the largest 

single group of reports of utilization (about 49 

percent of the total) was from ophthalmologists 

who were self-employed and engaged in group 

practice. 

ASSOCIATES SHARING THE SERVICES OF 

SUPPLEMENTARY PERSONNEL 

About 35 percent, or 2,749, of all users of 

supplementary personnel reported that they 

shared the services of these personnel with associates (tables 20 and 21). In professional character, the associates were almost all physicians 

and, in most instances, these physicians were 

other ophthalmologists. 

The number of associates most frequently reported was two. There were no pronounced regional variations from this preference. 

Age medians for ophthalmologists who shared 

personnel varied from about 50 years for oph-’ 

thalmologists who shared personnel with only 

one associate to about 46 years for ophthalmologists who shared personnel with two associates 

or more. 

Among sharing ophthalmologists, the largest 

single group (about 54 percent of the total) was 

composed of two associates engaged in partnership practice. Group practice was the preferred 

form only when the number of sharing associates was five or more. 

11 
LIST OF DETAILED TABLES 

Page 

Table 1. Number and percent distribution of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology who utilize one or more types of 

supplementary personnel by number of supplementary personnel utilized, according to area of practice: United 

States.1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 

2. Number and percent distribution of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology who utilize one or more types of 

supplementary personnel by number of supplementary personnel utilized, according to selected characteristics of 

the user: United States, 1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . , . . . . , . . . . . . . Z . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 

3. Number of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology who utilize supplementary personnel and number of 

supplementary personnel utilized, by type of supplementary personnel and basis of utilization: United States, 1968 . . 16 

4. Number of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology and number who utilize one or more types of supplementary 

personnel and, of these, the number who utilize secretaries, receptionists, and other administrative personnel, by 

geographic location: United States, 1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 

5. Number of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology and number who utilize one or more types of supplementary 

personnel and, of these, the number who utilize nursing personnel (RN’s, LPN’s, and LVN’s), by geographic 

location: United States, 1968 , , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 

6. Number of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology and number who utilize one or more types of supplementary 

personnel and, of these, the number who utilize ophthalmic medical assistants (general and refractive), by 

geographic location: United States, 1968 . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 

7. Number of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology and number who utilize one or more types of supplementary 

personnel and, of these, the number who utilize optical fitters (including opticians), by geographic location: United 

States, 1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 

8. Number of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology and number who utilize one or more types of supplementary 

personnel and, of these, the number who utilize optical technicians (laboratory, ophthalmic, or contact lens 

technicians), by geographic location: United States, 1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 

9. Number of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology and number who utilize one or more. types of supplementary 

personnel and, of these, the number who utilize orthoptists, by geographic location: United States, 1968 . . . . . 22 

10. Number of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology and number who utilize one dr more types of supplementary 

personnel and, of these, the number who utilize other clinical assistants, by geographic location: United States, 

1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 

11. Number of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology and number who utilize one or more types of supplementary 

personnel and, of these, the number who utilize optometrists (performing refractions and prescribing lenses on own 

authority-), by geographic location: United States, 1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 

12. Number of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology and number who utilize one or more types of supplementary 

personnel and, of these, the number who utilize secretaries, receptionists, and other administrative personnel, by 

selected characteristics of the user: United States, 1968 . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 

13. Number of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology and number who utilize one or more types of supplementary 

personnel and, of these, the number who utilize nursing personnel (RN’s, LPN’s, and LVN’s), by selected 

characteristics of the user: United States, 1968 . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 

14. Number of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology and number who utilize one or more types of supplementary 

personnel and, of these, the number who utilize ophthalmic medical assistants (general and refractive), by selected 

characteristics of the user: United States, 1968 . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 

15. Number of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology and number who utilize one or more types of supplementary 

personnel and, of these, the number who utilize optical fitters (including opticians), by selected characteristics of 

the user: United States, 1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 

12 
LIST OF DETAILED TABLES-Con. 

Page 

Table 16. Number of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology and number who utilize one or more types of supplementary 

personnel and, of these, the number who utilize optical technicians (laboratory, ophthalmic, or contact lens 

technicians), by selected characteristics of the user: United States, 1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 

17. Number of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology and number who utilize one or more types of supplementary 

personnel and, of these, the number who utilize orthoptists, by selected characteristics of the user: United States, 

1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..-.. 30 

18. Number of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology and number who utilize one or more types of supplementary 

personnel and, of these, the number who utilize other clinical assistants, by selected characteristics of the user: 

United States, 1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 

19. Number of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology and number who utilize one or more types of supplementary 

personnel and, of these, the number who utilize optometrists (performing refractions and prescribing lenses on own 

authority), by selected characteristics of the user: United States, 1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 

20. Number of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology and number who utilize one or more types of supplementary 

personnel and, of these, number of practitioners who share the services of supplementary personnel with associates, 

and number of associates with whom supplementary personnel are shared, by geographic location: United States, 

1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 

21. Number of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology and number who utilize one or more types of supplementary 

personnel and, of these, number of practitioners who share the services of supplementary personnel with associates, 

and number of associates with whom supplementary personnel are shared, by selected characteristics of the 

practitioner: United States, 1968 . . . . . . . . . . . . ‘. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 

13 
Table I. Number and percent distribution of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology who utilize one or more types of supplementary personnel by number of supplementary 

personnel utilized. according to area of practice: United States, 1968 

Number of clinical practitioners Percent distribution 

United States ...... 8,327 7,882 11 1,763 1,971 i ,228 2,920 100.0 22.4 25.0 15.6 37.0 

- - - - - - -

Alabama .............. 84 a3 11 23 17 32 100.0 13.3 28.0 20.0 38.7 

Alaska ............... 5 5 w B 3 100.0 # # 60.0 

Arizona .............. 78 76 20 17 10 30 100.0 26.4 22.2 12.5 38.9 

Arkansas ............. 41 41 3 9 7 21 100.0 7.9 21 .l 18.4 52.6 

California ............. 1,043 998 174 235 180 408 100.0 17.5 23.6 18.0 40.9 

Colorado ............. 118 114 23 32 17 43 100.0 20.2 27.5 14.7 37.6 

Connecticut ........... 150 144 50 41 18 34 100.0 34.9 28.6 12.7 23.8 

Delaware ............. 17 17 3 5 5 5 100.0 20.0 26.7 26.7 26.7 

District of Columbia ...... 75 71 10 19 14 29 100.0 14.0 26.3 19.3 40.4 

Florida ............... 282 281 55 59 46 121 100.0 19.7 209 16.5 43.0 

Georgia .............. 138 134 24 32 24 53 100.0 18.2 24.0 18.2 39.7 

Hawaii ............... 30 29 9 4 4 11 100.0 30.8 15.4 15.4 38.5 

Idaho ................ 34 33 a 10 3 12 100.0 23.3 30.0 10.0 36.7 

Illinois ............... 415 386 70 102 63 151 100.0 18.2 26.5 16.4 39.0 

Indiana .............. 170 162 26 44 31 61 100.0 16.3 27.0 19.1 37.6 

Iowa ................ 99 95 11 19 17 49 100.0 11.3 20.0 17.5 51.3 

Kansas ............... 72 69 8 22 14 26 100.0 10.9 31.3 20.3 37.5 

Kentucky ............. 90 a7 18 19 15 35 100.0 20.7 22.0 17.1 40.2 

Louisiana ............. 149 144 15 35 26 68 100.0 10.6 24.4 17.9 47.2 

Maine ............... 39 37 15 11 4 7 100.0 40.0 28.6 11.4 20.0 

Maryland ............. 155 146 40 53 18 35 100.0 27.3 36.4 12.4 24.0 

Massachusetts .......... 269 250 70 a2 19 79 100.0 27.9 32.9 7.8 31.5 

Michigan ............. 333 319 55 54 48 162 100.0 17.2 16.8 15.1 50.9 

Minnesota ............. 147 144 22 25 18 79 100.0 15.0 17.3 12.8 54.9 

Mississippi ............ 59 58 6 11 14 27 100.0 11.1 18.5 24.1 46.3 

Missouri .............. 176 169 28 38 36 67 100.0 16.4 22.6 21.4 39.6 

Montana .............. 39 38 a 7 9 13 100.0 22.2 19.4 25.0 33.3 

Nebraska ............. 54 54 a 11 10 25 100.0 15.6 20.0 17.8 46.7 

Nevada ............... 16 16 r: k 4 7 100.0 # * 26.7 46.7 

New Hampshire ......... 27 26 7 6 5 7 100.0 28.0 24.0 20.0 28.0 

New Jersey ............. 299 255 102 62 31 60 100.0 40.0 24.3 12.2 23.5 

New Mexico ........... 44 44 12 11 9 11 100.0 28.2 25.6 20.5 25.6 

New York ............. 980 893 326 242 111 214 100.0 36.5 27.1 12.4 24.0 

North Carolina ......... 167 161 28 46 20 67 100.0 17.1 28.8 12.3 41.8 

North Dakota .......... 20 20 # 4 # 14 100.0 ii 21.1 B 68.4 

Ohio ................ 382 366 93 86 58 126 100.0 25.3 24.4 15.8 34.5 

Oklahoma ............. 95 91 21 24 18 29 100.0 22.9 26.5 19.3 31.3 

Oregon ............... 108 107 18 27 19 42 100.0 17.2 25.3 18.2 39.4 

Pennsylvania ........... 548 492 143 127 78 144 100.0 29.1 25.7 15.8 29.3 

Rhode Island ........... 32 25 11 7 # # 100.0 41.7 29.2 * 

South Carolina ......... 70 68 17 1c 6 35 100.0 25.0 15.0 a.: 51.7 

South Dakota .......... 22 21 3 7 4 6 100.0 15.0 35.0 20.0 30.0 

Tennessee ............. 127 123 22 26 18 57 100.0 17.9 21.4 14.3 46.4 

Texas ................ 396 385 44 10E 73 164 100.0 11.3 27.3 18.9 42.4 

Utah ................ 47 46 9 11 10 15 100.0 20.5 25.0 22.7 31.8 

Vermont ............. 18 15 7 4 # i: 100.0 46.7 26.7 i: 4 

Virginia .............. 160 152 38 55 17 41 100.0 25.0 36.4 11.4 27.3 

Washington ............ 155 164 26 3E 20 70 100.0 17.0 24.8 12.8 45.4 

West Virginia ........... 61 60 13 1E 7 22 100.0 22.2 29.6 11.1 37.0 

Wisconsin ............. 168 162 24 2E 25 88 100.0 14.7 15.4 15.4 54.5 

Wyoming ............. 16 16 4 f, # 7 100.0 26.7 # k 46.7 

#Data suppressed to comply with confidentiality requirements. 

14 
Table 2. Number and percent distribution of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology who utilize one dr more types of supplementary personnrrl by number of supplementary personnel 

utilized, according to selected characteristics of ths user: United States. 1968 

Percent distribution 

All practitioners .......... 8,327 1,763 1,971 1,228 2,920 1w.c 22d 25.c 15.6 37.0 

Age: - - -

Under 35 years ............. 781 74t 184 156 106 302 1w.c 24.6 20.: 14.1 40.4 

3544 years ............... 2,222 2.19: 343 519 346 981 1W.C 15.6 23.i 15.9 44.7 

45.54 years ............... 1,927 lB6E 311 459 321 777 1oo.c 16.6 24.f 17.2 41.6 

55-64 years ............... 2.153 2PE 502 558 32C 629 1w.c 25.0 27P 15.9 31.3 

65 years and over ........... 1,244 lP6i 424 279 133 232 100s 39.7 28.1 12.5 21.7 

sex: 

Male.. .................. 8,106 7,68C 1,699 1,924 1,203 2854 1w.c 22.1 25.1 15.7 37.2 

Female .................. 221 20: 64 47 26 65 1oo.c 31.6 23.5 12.7 32.3 

Number of States licensed in: 

1 state .................. 4,901 4.407 1.044 1,127 669 1,567 1oo.c 23.7 25.E 15.2 35.5 

2 states or more ............ 3,426 3.47: 719 844 559 1,353 1w.c 20.7 24.3 16.1 38.9 

Number of eye patient visits weekly: 

Under 40 visits ............. 978 774 340 178 62 194 1 ooa 43.9 23.0 8.0 25.1 

40-79 visits ................ 1,983 1,&E 663 509 250 422 100.0 36.0 27.5 13.5 22.9 

80-l 19 visits ............... 2,211 2.15f 455 615 364 722 100.0 21.1 28.5 16.9 33.5 

120159 visits .............. 2,041 2,OlC 244 471 373 921 io0.a 12.1 23.4 18.6 458 

160-199 visits .............. 512 504 33 112 .90 269 100.0 6.6 22.2 17.8 53.4 

X.0 visits and over ........... 603 594 28 86 89 391 100.0 4.7 14.4 15.0 65.9 

Number of office locations: 

O-1 office’ ................ 7,232 6.849 1,566 1,741 1,067 2,473 100.0 22.9 25.4 15.6 36.1 

2 offices ................. 891 84: 161 192 137 352 loo.0 19.1 228 16.2 41.8 

3 off ices ................. 132 121 25 27 14 56 loo.0 20.2 22.1 119 45.8 

4 offices or more ............. 72 56 9 11 10 39 ioo.0 12.9 16.2 14.7 55.2 

Principal farm of employment: 

Self-employed: 

Solo practice ............ 5,695 5,321 1,623 1,712 925 1,052 loo.0 30.5 32.2 17.4 20.0 

Partnership ............. 1,385 1,376 45 109 172 1,049 100.0 3.2 8.0 12.5 75.3 

Group practice ........... 483 477 23 35 34 384 100.0 4.8 7.3 7.2 80.6 

Nongroup arrangement with 

other physicians ........ 352 344 16 52 60 206 loo.0 4.8 18.2 17.4 599 

Salaried: 

Hospital’ ............... 153 130 36 19 12 63 loo.0 27.6 14.6 9.4 48.4 

Nonhospital’ ............. 260 235 21 34 25 155 loo.0 9.1 14.3 10.5 66.1 

Number of patient services rendered: 

. l-2 services ................. 213 161 71 45 10 35 loo.0 44.4 27.9 6.2 21.5 

3-l services ................. 1,439 1,273 450 336 189 298 loo.0 35.4 26d 14.9 23.4 

5-5 services ................. 3,550 3,385 790 947 570 1,078 loo.0 23.3 28.0 16.8 319 

7-8 services. ................ 2,643 2,586 393 568 398 1,228 loo.0 15.2 21.9 15.4 47.5 

9-10 services ................ 483 477 59 78 61 281 loo.0 12.3 16.0 12.8 58.9 

Type of patient service rendered: 

Diagnostic examination (includes 

tonometry) .............. 8,282 7.847 1,755 1,961 1223 2,907 loo.0 22.4 25.0 15.6 37.1 

Medical treatment ............ 8,154 7,729 1.707 1,927 12206 2,889 100.0 22.1 24.9 15.6 37.4 

Eye surgery ................ 7,400 7,130 1,414 1,772 1,150 2,785 loo.0 19.8 24.9 16.3 39.1 

Visual field examination and 

medical interpmtation ....... 7,802 7,451 1,612 1867 1,169 2.803 ‘loo.0 21.6 25.1 15.7 37.6 

Fitting contact lenses .......... 4,834 4,733 793 1,107 771 2.082 loo.0 16.8 23.4 16.3 43.5 

Orthoptic training ............ 2,710 2,643 430 581 378 1254 loo.0 16.3 22.0 14.3 47.4 

Pwcribing low vision aids ....... 4,571 4,438 840 1,055 683 1,860 100.0 18.9 23.8 15.4 41.9 

Aniseikonic testing ........... 786 757 140 164 108 357 loo.0 18.5 20.4 14.0 47.2 

Tonography ................ 4,148 3,950 716 876 611 1,747 100.0 18.1 22.2 15.5 44.2 

Primary clinical specialty: 

General ophthalmology (medical 

and surgical1 .............. 7,956 7.533 1,702 1905 1.187 2,740 1 w.0 22.6 25.3 15.8 36.4 

Cornea1 surgery .............. 32 32 2 3 3 23 100.0 7.0 10.6 10.5 71.8 

Retinal surgery .............. 95 94 19 15 11 49 loo.0 20.2 15.9 11.9 52.1 

Pediatric ophthalmology ........ 69 69 7 10 9 43 loo.0 9.8 14.4 i 3.3 62.5 

Ophthalmic pathology ......... 14 11 2 1 8 loo.0 20.1 9.4 70.8 

Neuro-ophthalmology ......... 22 21 7 2 5 8 100.0 31.4 10.7 21.4 36.5 

Other .................... 138 121 27 33 12 49 100.0 21.9 27.5 10.1 40.5 

‘Only 13 respondents reported ^. no office location. 

” lnclucles meatcal schools: city, county, State, and Federal agencies; and other (all types of insurance carriers, pharmaceutical companies, wrporations,volunfaryorganizations, medical societies, associaions,and so forth). 

‘15 
Table 3. Number of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology who utilize supplementary personnel and number of supplementary 

personnel utilized, by type of supplementary personnel and basis of utilization: United States, 1968 

Type of supplementary personnel utilized and basis of utilization 

Secretaries, receptionists, and other administrative personnel: 

Full-time unshared ................................ 

Full-time shared .................................. 

Part-time unshared ................................ 

Part-time shared .................................. 

Nursing personnel (RN’s, LPN’s, and LVN’s): 

Full-time unshared ................................ 

Full-time shared .................................. 

Part-time unshared ................................ 

Part-time shared .................................. 

Ophthalmic medical assistants (general and refractive): 

Full-time unshared ................................ 

Full-time shared .................................. 

Part-time unshared ................................ 

Part-time shared .................................. 

Optical fitters (including opticians): 

Full-time unshared ................................ 

Full-time shared .................................. 

Part-time unshared ................................ 

Part-time shared .................................. 

Optical technicians (laboratory, ophthalmic, or contact lens 

technicians): 

Full-time unshared ................................ 

Full-time shared .................................. 

Part-time unshared ................................ 

Part-time shared .................................. 

Orthoptists: 

Full-time unshared ................................ 

Full-time shared .................................. 

Part-time unshared ................................ 

Part-time shared .................................. 

Other clinical assistants: 

Full-time unshared ................................ 

Full-time shared .................................. 

Part-time unshared ................................ 

Part-time shared .................................. 

Optometrists (performing refractions and prescribing lenses 

on own authority): 

Full-time unshared ................................ 

Full-time shared .................................. 

Part-time unshared ................................ 

Part-time shared ................................... 

Number of 

practitioners 

utilizing 

supplementary 

personnel 

Number of clinical practitioners 

4,873 3,577 1,017 195 85 

2,405 574 586 438 807 

1,413 1,159 201 40 13 

698 473 128 51 45 

I.455 1,265 144 25 21 

1,206 616 296 102 191 

251 219 21 6 6 

189 136 32 7 15 

1,201 969 184 25 22 

784 377 186 106 116 

184 148 27 7 

99 68 19 7 

800 703 76 18 

845 412 245 125 

80 71 4 2 

69 54 8 1 

333 282 37 9 

551 376 111 21 

230 215 13 1 

149 133 12 4 

93 89 4 

327 271 33 15 

82 79 2 

144 136 6 

165 138 14 5 

181 100 31 11 

47 39 8 

46 41 1 1 

70 57 11 

103 52 11 16 

27 21 4 1 

22 11 2 4 

2 

6 

3 

63 

2 

6 

6 

42 

1 

8 

2 

7 

39 

2 

2 

23 

5 

16 
Table 4. Number of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology and number who utilize one or more types of supplementary personnel 

and, of these, the number who utilize secretaries, receptionists, and other administrative personnel, by geographic location: United 

States, 1968 

Geographic location 

United States .................... 

Geographic region: 

Northeast ......................... 

North Central ...................... 

South ........................... 

West ............................ 

Geographic division: 

New England ....................... 

Middle Atlantic ..................... 

East North Central ................... 

West North Central .................. 

South Atlantic ..................... 

East South Central ................... 

West South Central .................. 

Mountain ......................... 

Pacific ........................... 

Standard Federal administrative region:’ 

Region I ......................... 

Region II ......................... 

Region III ........................ 

Region IV ........................ 

Region V ......................... 

Region VI ........................ 

Region VII ........................ 

Region VIII ....................... 

Region IX ........................ 

RegionX ......................... 

Basis of utilization of secretaries, 

receptionists,and other administrative personnel 

Number of clinical practitioners 

8,327 7,882 4,873 2,405 1,413 

2,362 2,136 1,365 453 522 172 

2,058 1,968 1,131 704 320 232 

2,175 2,103 1,371 682 290 136 

1,733 1,676 1,006 566 282 157 

535 496 335 114 123 23 

1,827 1,640 1,031 339 398 150 

1,468 1,396 805 470 245 157 

590 571 326 234 75 75 

1,134 1,091 706 342 175 74 

360 351 238 110 39 25 

680 661 427 230 75 37 

392 383 247 116 55 35 

1,341 1,292 758 450 226 122 

535 496 335 114 123 23 

1,279 1,148 709 246 293 114 

1,016 938 608 232 184 71 

1,027 995 658 313 135 64 

1,615 1,539 874 545 258 181 

725 705 461 239 83 40 

401 387 231 148 55 51 

262 255 157 77 40 22 

1,167 1,119 652 389 193 116 

302 299 192 101 47 17 

‘Explanation of standard Federal administrative regions and States within each region is contained in appendix II. 

17 
Table 5. Number of clinical practitioners 

and, of these, the number who utilize 

Geographic location 

United States .................... 

Geographic region: 

Northeast ......................... 

North Central ...................... 

South ........................... 

West ............................ 

Geographic division: 

New England ...................... 

Middle Atlantic ..................... 

East North Central ................... 

West North Central .................. 

South Atlantic ..................... 

East South Central ................... 

West South Central .................. 

Mountain ......................... 

Pacific ........................... 

Standard Federal administrative region:l 

Region1 ......................... 

Region II ......................... 

Region III ........................ 

Region IV ........................ 

Region V ......................... 

Region VI ........................ 

Region VII ........................ 

Region VIII ....................... 

Region IX ........................ 

RegionX ......................... 

of ophthalmology and number who utilize one or more types of supplementary personnel 

nursing personnel (RN’s, LPN’s, and LVN’s), by geographic location: United States, 1968 

Basis of utilization of nursing personnel 

Number of clinical practitioners 

8,327 7882 1,455 1,206 251 189 

2,362 2,136 275 190 74 40 

2,058 1,968 408 401 81 63 

2,175 2,103 448 343 47 36 

1,733 1,676 325 272 49 50 

535 496 62 44 18 d 

1,827 1,640 213 146 56 35 

1,468 1,396 284 276 65 44 

590 571 124 125 16 19 

1,134 1,091 242 174 27 16 

360 351 68 50 8 7 

680 661 138 119 12 14 

392 383 75 53 8 9 

1,341 1,292 249 219 41 41 

535 496 62 44 18 6 

1,279 1,148 123 92 32 26 

1,016 938 158 123 33 13 

1,027 995 243 158 24 16 

1,615 1,539 310 319 67 52 

725 705 147 124 12 14 

401 387 83 76 9 8 

262 255 62 33 7 5 

1,167 1,119 203 189 34 36 

302 299 66 51 11 IO 

1 Explanation of standard Federal administrative regions and States within each region is contained in appendix I I. 

18 
Table 6. Number of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology and number who utilize one or more types of supplementary personnel 

and, of these, the number who utilize ophthalmic medical assistants (general and refractive), by geographic location: United States, 

1968 

Geographic location 

United States .................... 

Geographic region: 

Northeast ....... L ................. 

North Central ...................... 

South ........................... 

West ............................ 

Geographic division: 

New England ...................... 

Middle Atlantic ..................... 

East North Central ................... 

West North Central .................. 

South Atlantic ..................... 

East South Central ................... 

West South Central .................. 

Mountain ......................... 

Pacific ............................ 

Standard Federal administrative region:* 

Region1 ......................... 

Region II ......................... 

Region III ........................ 

Region IV ........................ 

RegionV.. ....................... 

Region VI ........................ 

Region VII ........................ 

Region VIII ....................... 

Region IX ........................ 

RegionX ......................... 

’ Explanation of standard Federal administrative 

Number Number of Basis of utilization of ophthalmic medical 

of clinical practitioners assistants (general and refractive) 

practitioners utilizing 

of ophthal- supplementary Full-time Full-time Part-time Part-time 

mology personnel unshared shared unshared shared 

Number of clinical practitioners 

8,327 7682 1,201 784 184 99 

2,362 2,136 204 106 57 30 

2,058 1,968 287 231 48 26 

2,175 2,103 399 256 44 17 

1,733 1,676 310 192 35 27 

535 496 40 34 6 8 

1927 1,640 164 71 51 22 

1,468 13% 190 137 35 15 

590 571 97 94 13 11 

1,134 1,091 163 114 22 7 

360 351 73 53 9 5 

680 661 163 88 13 4 

392 383 57 29 5 1 

1,341 1292 253 164 30 25 

535 496, 40 34 6 8 

1,279 1,148 703 49 34 18 

1,016 938 106 55 27 6 

1,027 995 192 133 21 10 

1,615 1,539 206 167 39 16 

725 705 174 88 13 4 

401 387 73 61 7 8 

262 255 37 22 5 1 

1,167 1,119 225 136 29 22 

302 299 45 36 2 3 

regions and States within each re n is conta d in appendix I I. 

19 
Table 7. Number of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology and number who utilize one or more types of supplementary personnel 

and, of these, the number who utilize optical fitters (including opticians), by geographic location: United States, 1968 

Geographic location 

United States .................... 

Geographic region: 

Northeast ......................... 

North Central ...................... 

South ........................... 

West ............................ 

Geographic division: 

New England ...................... 

Middle Atlantic ..................... 

East North Central ................... 

West North Central .................. 

South Atlantic ..................... 

East South Central ................... 

West South Central .................. 

Mountain ......................... 

Pacific .. .‘I ....................... 

Standard Federal administrative region:l 

Region1 ......................... 

Region II ......................... 

Region III ........................ 

Region IV ........................ 

RegionV ......................... 

Region VI ........................ 

Region VII ........................ 

Region VIII ....................... 

Region IX ........................ 

Region X ......................... 

Number Number of Basis of utilization of optical fitters 

of clinical practitioners (including opticians) 

practitioners utilizing 

of ophthal- supplementary Full-time Full-time Part-time Part-time 

mology personnel unshared shared unshared shared 

Number of clinical practitioners 

'8,327 7,882 BOO 845 80 

2,362 2,136 110 67 20 

2,058 1,968 234 272 34 

2,175 2,103 249 271 10 

1,733 1,676 207 235 15 

535 496 27 12 4 

1,827 1,640 84 55 16 

1,468 1,396 182 210 29 

590 571 52 62 6 

1,134 1,091 97 124 4 

360 351 32 43 4 

680 661 120 105 2 

392 383 51 52 2 

1,341 1,292 156 183 13 

535 496 27 12 .4 

1,279 1,146 36 28 9 

1,016 938 66 49 9 

1,027 995 110 145 5 

1,615 1,539 190 '224 28 

725 705 127 108 2 

401 387 36 42 4 

262 255 34 36 3 

1,167 1,119 128 148 9 

302 299 46 51 4 

69 

12 

27 

11 

19 

3 

9 

17 

10 

6 

2 

3 

4 

14 

3 

9 

1 

6 

19 

3 

7 

17 

1 

’ Explanation of standard Federal administrative regions and States within each region is contained in appendix II. 

20 
Table 8. Number of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology and number who utilize one or more types of supplementary personnel 

and, of these, the number who utilize optical technicians (laboratory, ophthalmic, or contact lens technicians), by geographic 

location: United States, 1968 

Number Number of Basis of utilization of optical technicians 

of clinical practitioners (laboratory, ophthalmic, or contact lens 

Geographic location practitioners utilizing technicians) 

of ophthal- supplementary 

mology personnel 

Number of clinical practitioners 

United States .................... 8,327 7,882 333 551 230 149 

Geographic region: 

Northeast ......................... 2,362 2,? 36 51 47 73 39 

North Central ..................... 2,058 1,968 89 195 56 49 

South .......................... 2,175 2,103 92 172 50 31 

West ............................ 1,733 1,676 102 137 52 31 

Geographic division: 

New England ...................... 535 496 8 17 9 4 

Middle Atlantic ..................... 1,827 1,640 44 30 64 35 

East North Central ................... 1,46a 1,396 70 132 38 43 

West North Central .................. 590 571 19 64 18 5 

South Atlantic ..................... 1,134 1,091 39 86 25 21 

East South Central ................... 360 351 13 27 8 4 

West South Central .................. SSO 661 39 59 17 6 

Mountain ......................... 392 383 33 26 15 8 

Pacific ........................... 1,341 1292 68 110 38 22 

Standard Federal administrative region:’ 

Region1 ......................... 535 496 8 17 9 4 

Region II ......................... 1,279 I.148 35 22 41 28 

Region III ........................ 1,016 938 15 22 33 20 

Region IV ........................ 1,027 995 45 100 21 13 

RegionV ......................... 1,615 1,539 73 167 40 46 

Region VI ........................ 725 705 46 58 17 6 

Region VII ........................ 401 387 10 27 13 3 

Region VIII ....................... 262 255 20 20 14 5 

Region IX ........................ 1,167 1,119 56 86 31 21 

Region X ......................... 302 299 22 33 8 4 

’ Explanation of standard Federal administrative regions and States within each region is contained in appendix II. 

21 
Table 9. Rumber of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology and number who utilize one or more types of supplementary personnel 

and, of these, the number who utilize orthoptists, by geographic location: United States, 1968 

Number Number of 

of clinical practitioners Basis of urtilizs rtion of orthoptists 

Geographic location practitioners utilizing Full-time Full-time Part-time Part-time of ophthal- supplementary unshared shared unshared shared mology personnel 

Number of clinical practitioners 

United States .................... 8,327 7,882 93 327 82 144 

Geographic region: 

Northeast .......................... 2,362 2,136 26 47 18 31 

North Central ...................... 2,958 1,968 22 114 17 39 

South ........................... 2,175 2,103 28 101 21 40 

West ............................ 1,733 1,676 17 66 26 34 

Geographic division: 

New England ..................... 535 496 4 13 4 10 

Middle Atlantic ..................... 1,827 1,640 21 35 13 21 

East North Central ................... 1,468 1,396 15 76 16 30 

West North Central .................. 590 571 7 37 1 9 

South Atlantic ..................... 1,134 1,091 15 50 13 28 

East South Central ................... 360 351 4 IO 3 8 

West South Central .................. 680 661 9 41 4 4 

Mountain ......................... 392 383 3 20 2 2 

Pacific ........................... 1,341 1,292 14 45 24 32 

Standard Federal administrative region:’ 

Region I ......................... 535 496 4 13 4 10 

Region II ......................... 1,279 1,148 13 24 10 13 

Region III ........................ 1,016 938 12 24 10 14 

Region IV ........................ 1,027 995 14 47 8 28 

RegionV.. ....................... 1,615 1,539 15 98 17 32 

Region VI ........................ 725 705 IO 42 4 4 

Region VII ........................ 401 387 7 14 5 

Region VIII ....................... 262 255 1 13 2 1 

Region IX ........................ 1,167 1,119 7 38 19 33 

RegionX ......................... 302 299 8 14 5 

1 Explanation of standard Federal administrative regions and States within each region is contained in appendix I I. 

22 
Table 10. Number of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology and number who utilize one or more types of supplementary personnel 

and, of these, the number who utilize other clinical assistants, by geographic location: United States, 1968 

Number Number of Basis of utilization of 

of clinical practitioners other clinical assistants 

Geographic location practitioners utilizing 

of ophthal- supplementary 

mology personnel 

United States’ .................... 

Geographic region: 

Northeast ......................... 

North Central ...................... 

South ........................... 

West ............................ 

Geographic division: 

New England ...................... 

Middle Atlantic ..................... 

East North Central ................... 

West North Central .................. 

South Atlantic ..................... 

East South Central ................... 

West South Central .................. 

Mountain ......................... 

Pacific ........................... 

Standard Federal administrative region:* 

Region I ......................... 

Region II ......................... 

Region III ...................... .: 

Region IV ........................ 

Region V ......................... 

Region VI ........................ 

Region VII ........................ 

Region VIII ....................... 

Region IX ........................ 

RegionX ......................... 

Number of clinical practitioners 

8,327 7,882 165 181 47 46 

2,362 2,136 23 24 18 12 

2,058 1,968 40 51 8 9 

2,175 2,103 70 70 11 15 

1,733 1,676 31 36 10 10 

535 496 6 5 7 1 

1,827 1,640 18 19 11 11 

1,468 1,396 28 26 3 5 

590 571 12 25 4 3 

1,134 1,091 21 32 5 8 

360 351 19 12 3 4 

680 661 30 26 3 2 

392 3B3 9 7 1 2 

1,341 1,292 22 29 9 8 

535 496 6 5 7 1 

1,279 1,148 8 13 10 10 

1,016 938 16 15 2 6 

1,027 995 35 34 6 7 

1,615 1,539 31 33 5 5 

725 705 35 26 3 2 

401 387 10 16 1 2 

262 255 2 7 2 2 

1,167 1,119 21 20 7 4 

302 299 3 10 2 4 

’ Explanation of standard Federal administrative regions and States within each region is contained in appendix II. 

23 
Table 11. Number of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology and number who utilize one’or more types of supplementary personnel 

and, of these, the number who utilize optometrists (performing refractions and prescribing lenses on own authority), by geographic 

location: United States, 1968 

Geographic location 

United States .................... 

Geographic region: 

Northeast ........................ 

North Central ...................... 

South ........................... 

West ............................ 

Geographic division: 

New England ...................... 

Middle Atlantic ..................... 

East North Central ................... 

West North Central .................. 

South Atlantic ..................... 

East South Central ................... 

West South Central .................. 

Mountain ......................... 

Pacific ........................... 

Standard Federal administrative region:’ 

Region I ......................... 

Region II ......................... 

Region III ........................ 

Region IV ........................ 

Region V ......................... 

Region VI ........................ 

Region VII ........................ 

Region VIII ....................... 

Region IX ........................ 

Region X ......................... 

1 Explanation of standard Federal administrative 

24 

Number Number of Basis of utilization of optometrists 

of clinical practitioners , (performing refractions and prescribing 

practitioners utilizing lenses on own authority) 

of ophthal- supplementary Part-time Part-time mology personnel unshared shared 

Number of clinical practitioners 

8,327 7,882 70 103 27 22 

2,362 2,136 11 19 12 

2,058 1,968 33 34 10 

2,175 2,103 6 7 2 

1,733 1,676 20 43 2 

535 496 6 10 1 

1,827 1,640 6 9 6 

1,468 1,396 27 23 4 

590 571 6 10 1 

1,134 1,091 3 6 1 

360 351 2 1 

680 661 

392 383 1 2 

1,341 1,292 19 41 2 9 

535 496 6 10 7 

1,279 1,148 3 5 6 

1,016 938 2 5 

1,027 995 5 4 2 

1,615 1,539 28 23 8 

725 705 

401 387 4 7 

262 255 1 4 

1,167 1,119 19 35 

302 299 1 6 

regions and States within each region is contained in appendix II. 

I 
Table 12. Number of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology and number who utilize one or more types of supplementary personnel and,of these,the number who utilize secretaries, receptionists, and other administrative personnel, by selected characteristics of the user: United States. 1969 

utilization of secretaries, .- ___I ^.L^___l-:_:^_^.:..^ 

Number of clinical practitioners 

All clinical practitioners .............................................. 8,327 4,973 2,405 1,413 698 

Age: 

Under35years ........................................................ 781 746 346 362 84 99 

3544yearr.. ......................................................... 2,222 2,193 1,283 812 416 269 

4554 years ........................................................... 1,927 1,868 1,193 652 357 154 

55.64 years ........................................................... 2,153 2,009 1,368 461 382 112 

65yearrandowr.. ..................................................... 1,244 1.067 683 219 174 62 

sex: 

Male ............................................................... 8.106 7,680 4,?78 2,332 1,369 673 

Female .............................................................. 221 202 95 73 44 25 

Number of States licensed in: 

1srate ............................. 4,901 4,407 2,729 1,292 802 369 

2 States or more ....................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,426 3,475 2,144 1,113 611 328 

Number of eye patient visits weekly 

Under 40 visits ............ . . . . . . . ...................... 978 774 442 ia8 143 46 

40.79 visits .............. ........... ....... ...................... 1,983 1,845 1,174 419 315 120 

SO-119visitr ............. ........... ....... ...................... 2,211 2,156 1,298 697 371 199 

120.159 visits ............ ........... ....... ...................... 2,041 2,010 1,258 700 386 201 

160-199 visits ............ ........... ....... ...................... 612 604 325 176 101 64 

200 visits and over ......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...................... 603 594 376 224 96 68 

Number of office locations: 

O-1 office’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... ........... .,.... 7,232 6,849 4,278 2.050 1,164 569 

2 offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... ........... .._... 891 842 501 285 210 101 

3 offices _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... ........... . . . . . 132 122 57 46 25 15 

4 offices or more .,.................... ....... ........... . . . . . . 72 69 37 26 15 13 

Principal farm of employment: 

Self-employed: 

Solo practice _ . . _ . . _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.695 5,321 4,275 355 1.269 130 

Partnership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,385 1,376 240 1.197 57 371 

Group practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 483 477 139 366 27 73 

Nongroup arrangement with other physicians . . . . . 352 344 72 282 27 86 

Salaried: 

Hospital’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153 130 49 65 9 16 

Nonhospital’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260 235 98 160 25 22 

Number of patient services rendered: 

l-2 services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........... . . 213 161 92 36 31 8 

34servicer .,................................ . . . ........... . . . 1,439 1,273 791 297 254 82 

5.6 services _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........... . . . 3,550 3,385 2,204 914 620 261 

7-8 servicer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........... 2,643 2,586 1,501 968 438 305 

9-10 services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 483 477 286 191 70 42 

Type of patient services rendered: 

Diagnostic examination (includes tonometrvl ............................ 8,282 7,847 4,853 2,392 1,408 693 

Medicaltreatment .............................................. a.154 7.72z 4,781 2.371 1,384 696 

Eye surgery ................................................... 

Visual field examination and medical interpretation ........................ 

Fitting contact lenses ............................................. 

. . . . . . . . . 

7,400 

i.802 

4,834 

7.13c 

7,451 

4.733 

4,404 

4,623

2889 

2,263

229291 

IL-84 

1,295 

1,335 

841 

659 

672 

483 

Orthoptic training ............................................... 2,710 2.645 1,527 984 440 296 

Prescribing low vision aids .......................................... . . . 4,571 4.43E 2,720 1,499 745 437 

Aniseikonic testing ............................................... . . . 786 76i 472 249 127 61 

Tanography ................................................... . . . 4,148 3.95c 2.371 1,367 618 372 

Primary clinical specialty: 

General ophthalmology (medical and surgical) .................................... 7,956 7.53: 4,705 2.247 1,351 656 

Cornealsurgery ........................................................ 32 3i 13 18 4 6 

Retinalsurgery ........................................................ 95 94 47 47 12 12 

Pediatricophthalmology .................................................. 69 61 31 36 14 11 

Ophthalmic pathology .................................................... 14 11 7 E 3 1 

Neuro-ophthalmology .................................................... 22 21 13 E 2 2 

Other ............................................................... 138 121 57 47 26 9 

‘Only 13 respondents reported no office location. 

‘Includes nongovernment hospitals and city, county. State, and Federal hospitals. 

‘Includes medical schools; city. county, State, and Federal agencies; and other (all types of msurance carriers, pharmaleutical companies, mrporations, voluntary organizations, medical 

societies. associations, and so forth). 

25 
Table 13. Number of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology and number who utilizeoneor moretypesof supplementary personnel and, of these, the number who utilize nursing personnel 

(RN’s, LPN’s, and LVN’sl, by selected characteristics of the user: United States, 1968 

Basis of utilization of nursing personnel 

Characteristic 

~~ 

Number of clinical practitioners 

All clinical practitioners . . . . . . . . . 8,327 7.882 1 A55 1,206 251 189 

Age: 

Under35vears . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 781 746 52 178 12 17 

3544years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,222 2,193 336 390 68 71 

45.54years.. ......................................................... 1827 1,868 392 288 61 53 

55.64vears.. ......................................................... 2,153 2,009 466 241 74 39 

65ywsandover.. ..................................................... 1,244 1,067 210 109 36 9 

sex: 

Male ............................................................... 8,106 7,680 1,432 1,171 245 181 

Female .............................................................. 221 202 23 35 6 8 

Number of States licensed in: 

1state .............................................................. 4,901 4,407 809 627 141 122 

2 States or more ........................................................ 3,426 3,475 646 578 110 67 

Number of eye patient visits weekly: 

Under40visirs ......................................................... 978 774 109 107 41 20 

40.79visits.. ........................................................ 1.983 1,845 321 210 48 33 

SO-119visits .......................................................... 2.211 2,156 324 330 54 52 

120.159visits ......................................................... 2.041 2,010 413 340 63 57 

160.199visits ......................................................... 512 504 129 97 26 10 

200 visits and over ...................................................... 603 594 160 123 20 17 

Number of office locations: 

O.loffice’ ........................................................... 7,232 6,849 1,311 1,033 ,217 160 

Poffices.. ........................................................... 891 842 107 128 27 27 

3offices.. ........................................................... 132 122 20 29 6 9 

4officesormore ....................................................... 72 69 18 15 1 3 

Principal form of employment: 

Self-employed: 

Solo practice ................................ 5,695 5.321 1,076 138 210 31 

Partnership ................................. 1,385 1,376 172 588 12 a7 

Group practice .............................. 483 477 135 232 12 34 

Nongroup arrangement with other physicians .......... 352 344 32 101 6 13 

Salaried: 

Hospital’ .................................. 163 130 19 41 4 7 

Nonhospital ............................... 260 235 21 105 7 17 

Number of patient services rendered: 

l-2 services ........................................................... 213 161 22 19 3 4 

34services ........................................................... 1,439 1,273 221 143 54 23 

56services.. ......................................................... 3.550 3,386 620 426 109 63 

78services.. ......................................................... 2,643 2,686 490 513 69 77 

9.lOservice .......................................................... 483 477 102 105 15 21 

Type of patient service rendered: 

Diagnostic examination (includes tonometryl ................. 8,282 7847 1,448 1,198 249 187 

Medical treatment ................................... 8,164 7,729 1,434 1,198 251 187 

Evesurgery ........................................ 7,400 7,130 1,331 1,134 224 174 

Visual field examination and medical interpretation ............. 7,802 7,451 1,380 1.141 233 180 

Fitting contact lenses ................................. 4,834 4,733 860 789 141 122 

Orthoptic training ................................... 2,710 2,643 501 524 78 88 

Prescribing low vision aids .............................. 4.571 4,438 844 751 131 110 

Aniseikonic testing ................................... 786 757 155 140 27 22 

Tonography ....................................... 4,148 3,950 828 742 125 118 

Primary clinical specialty: 

General ophthalmology (medical and surgical) .................... 7,956 7,533 1,412 1,110 238 171 

CorneaI surgery ........................................ 32 32 4 8 1 

Retinal surgery ........................................ 95 94 13 36 2 8 

Pediatric ophthalmology .................................. 69 69 10 21 1 6 

Ophthalmic pathology .................................... 14 11 1 3 

Neuro-ophthalmology .................................... 22 21 1 5 1 

Other.. ............................................. 138 121 13 22 9 2 

‘Only 13 respondents reported no office location. 

‘Includes nongovernment hospitals and city, county, State, and Federal hospitals. 

’ Includes medical schools; city, county, State, and Federal agencies; and other (all types of insurance carriers, pharmaceutical companies, corporations, voluntary organizations, medical 

societies, associations, and so forth). 

26 
Table 14. Number of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology and number who utilize one or more types of supplementary personnel and, of these, the number who utilize ophthalmic 

medical assinants Igeneral end refractive), by selected characteristics 

-of the user: United States, 1968 

Basis of utilization of ophthalmic 

medical assistants lgeneral and refactive) 

Characteristic 

Number of clinical practitioners 

All clinical practitioners .............................................. 

I 8.327 7,882 1,201 784 99 

Age: 

Under35years ........................................................ 781 746 80 115 9 21 

35~years ........................................................... 2,222 2,193 369 292 68 34 

45.54vears.. ......................................................... 1,927 1,868 335 194 44 22 

55~4years ........................................................... 2,153 2,009 310 129 51 17 

65 years and over ....................................................... 1.244 1,067 106 54 12 6 

Sex: 

Male ............................................................... 8,106 7,680 1,175 772 178 96 

Female .............................................................. 221 202 26 I2 6 3 

Number of States licensed in: 

1state .............................................................. 4,901 4,407 677 395 100 52 

2Staresormore.. ...................................................... 3,426 3,475 523 390 84 47 

Number of eye patient visits weekly: 

Under 40 visits ......................................................... 978 774 49 62 11 5 

40-79 visits ........................................................... 1,983 1,845 178 124 32 19 

SO-119visits .......................................................... 2,211 2.156 346 210 55 32 

120-159 visits ......................................................... 2,041 2,010 380 228 59 25 

160.199visits ......................................................... 512 594 93 58 12 8 

200 visits and over ...................................................... 603 594 155 103 14 10 

Number of office locations: 

O-1 off ice’ ........................................................... 7.232 6,849 1,068 678 156 76 

Zoffices ............................................................. 891 842 IO8 80 23 I8 

3offices ............................................................. 132 122 16 10 3 1 

4 offices or more ....................................................... 72 69 9 17 2 4 

Principal form of employment: 

Self-employed: 

Solo practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ . . . . . . 5,695 5,321 931 61 147 23 

Partnership . . . . . . . . , . . . , . _ . , . . . . . . ,... 1,385 1,376 130 426 19 44 

Group practice . . _ . . . . . . . . . _ . _ . _ . . . . . 483 477 ES 134 7 9 

Nongroup arrangement with other physi&ns . . . . 352 344 42 82 3 14 

Salaried: 

Hospital’ . . . . . . . . , . . . _ _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153 130 I5 23 4 2 

Nonhospital’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260 235 17 59 3 7 

Number of patient services rendered: 

I-2ser;ices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213 161 7 10 2 

34services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .._......_..........._.._....._.._.. 1,439 1,273 110 65 28 3 

56services . . . . . . . .._..............._..........._.........._.......... 3,550 3,386 466 242 82 37 

7-8services . . . .._.._..................._.._....._............_........ 2,643 2,586 509 380 60 50 

9-lOservices . . . . . . . . .._........._....._.....................___._..... 483 477 108 89 12 9 

Type of patient service rendered: 

Diagnostic examination (includes tonometry) . _ . . . . 8,282 7,847 1.197 780 183 99 

Medical treatment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,154 7,729 1.184 777 182 99 

Eye surgery . _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,400 7,130 1,153 751 I75 98 

Visual field examination and medical interpretation . . . 7.802 7,451 1,171 757 I77 97 

Fitting contact lenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,834 4,733 884 567 113 76 

Orthoptic training . . . _ . . _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,710 2.643 507 386 73 45 

Prescribing low vision aids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,571 4.4ja 791 545 101 73 

Aniseikonic testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 786 757 139 95 19 IO 

Tonography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.148 3,950 671 536 77 60 

Primary clinical Specialty: 

General ophthalmology (medical and surgical1 ....... 7,956 7,533 1.163 721 179 92 

CorneaI surgery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... 32 32 3 6 1 

Retinal surgery _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ ....... 95 94 12 19 2 

Pediatric ophthalmology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... 69 69 8 6 1 3 

Ophthalmic pathology . . . . . . . _ . . . . . . _ ....... 14 11 4 

Neuro-ophthalmology . . . . . . . _ . . . . . . . ....... 22 21 2 5 

Other . . . . . . . . . _ . . . . . . . . . . ....... 138 121 12 23 2 1 

‘Only 13 respondents reported no office location. 

‘Includes nongovernment hospirals and city, county, State, and Federal hospitals. 

‘Includes medical schools; city, county, State, and Federal agencies: and other lall types of insurance carriers, pharmaceutical companies, corporations, voluntary organizations. medical 

societies, associations. and so forth). 

27 . 
Table 15. Number of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology and number who utilize one or mDre types of supplementary personnel and,of these, the number who utilize optical fitters 

(including opticians), by selected characteristics of the user: United States, 1968 

- Number Number of Basis of utilization of optical fitters 

of clinical I practitioners lincludinq - opticians1 

nctitioners utilizing 

d ophthal- supplementary Full-time Full-time Part-time Part-time 

mology I PelSOllnd unshared shared unshared shared 

Number of clinical practitioners 

All clinical practitioners .............................................. 8,327 7.882 845 80 69 

Age: 

Under35years ........................................................ 781 746 36 113 4 14 

3544years ........................................................... 2,222 2,193 222 302 20 25 

45.54years ........................................................... 1,927 1,868 233 219 17 10 

55.64years ........................................................... 2,153 2,009 234 152 31 16 

65 years end over ....................................................... 1,244 1,067 75 59 7 4 

sex: 

Male ............................................................... 8,106 7,680 789 828 79 68 

Female .............................................................. 221 202 11 17 1 3 

Number of States licensed in: 

1 state .............................................................. 4,901 4,407 466 460 35 35 

ZStatesormore ........................................................ 3,426 3,475 334 385 45 34 

Number of eye patient visits weekly: 

Under 40 visits ......................................................... 978 774 31 38 5 9 

40.79visits ........................................................... 1,983 1,845 137 113 24 21 

80.119visits .......................................................... 2,211 2,156 196 249 20 9 

120.159visits ......................................................... 2,041 2,010 262 294 15 22 

160-199 visits ......................................................... 512 504 72 68 7 5 

200 visits and over ...................................................... 603 594 103 83 9 3 

Number of office locations: 

Characteristic I

F 

O-l office’ 7,232 6,849 729 755 71 55 

2 offices . . . . . 891 842 57 71 8 12 

3 offices . 132 122 12 10 1 2 

4 officer or more . 72 69 2 9 

Principal form of employment: 

Self-employed: 

Solo practice . . 5,695 5,321 672 127 69 14 

Partnership . . . . 1,385 1,376 68 437 5 28 

Group practice . . . . . . . 483 477 40 156 2 6 

Nongroup arrangement with other physicians 352 344 14 74 1 8 

Salaried: 

Hospital’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153 130 1 16 3 

Nonhospital’ .,......,...,..,..... 260 235 6 35 3 10 

Number of patient services rendered: 

l-Zservices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213 161 11 10 

34servicer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,439 1.273 77 55 19 4 

56services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,550 3,385 332 284 31 25 

7-8wvices . . . .._...................._................................ 2,643 2,586 316 415 26 32 

9-lOservicer . . . ..__............_......__.,.....,.......,......,..... 483 477 64 80 3 8 

Type of patient service rendered: 

Diagnostic examination (includes tonometry) .......... 8,282 7,847 797 841 80 69 

Medical treatment . , . ............ 8,154 7.729 788 840 80 69 

Eye surgery ............ 7.400 7;130 747 818 77 68 

Visual field examination and medical interpretation ............ 7,802 7,451 763 816 74 69 

Fitting contact lenses . . ............ 4,834 4.733 632 675 45 54 

Orthoptic training . ............ 2,710 2,643 276 407 25 36 

Prescribing low vision aids . . ............ 4,571 4.438 499 573 43 47 

Aniseikonic testing . ............ 786 ‘757 91 98 8 7 

Tonography . . ............ 4,148 3,950 435 509 34 41 

Primary clinical specialty: 

General ophthalmology (medical and surgical) ....... 7,956 7,533 785 814 78 61 

CorneaI surgery ....... 32 32 2 5 1 

Retinal surgery . ....... 95 94 1 8 

Pediatric ophthalmology . . ....... 69 69 1 9 1 

Ophthalmic pathology . ....... 14 11 2 1 

Neuro-ophthalmology . ....... 22 21 1 

Other . . . . ~. . ....... 138 121 9 8 

‘Only 13 respondents reported no office location. 

’ Includes nongovernment hospials and city, wunty. State, and Federal hospitals. 

’ Includes medical schools; city, county. State, and Federal agencies; and other (all types of insurance carriers, pharmaceutical companies, corporations, voluntary organizations, medical 

societies, associations, and so forth). 

28 
Table 15. Number of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology and number who utilize one or more types of supplementary personnel and. of there, the number who utilize optical technicians (laboratory, ophthalmic, or conract lenstechniciansl. by selected characteristics of the user: United States, 1968 

Basis of utilization Of optical 

technicians Ilaboratorv. ophthalmic. or 

Ch&cteristic 

Number of clinical practitioners 

All clinical practitioners .............................................. 5.327 7.882 333 551 230 149 

- Age: 

Under35vears ........................................................ 781 746 17 55 18 18 

3~4vearr ........................................................... 2,222 2,193 78 182 87 57 

4554 years ........................................................... 1,927 1,868 101 157 53 33 

55s4vears ........................................................... 2,153 2,009 95 109 51 32 

55 years and over ....................................................... 1,244 1.057 42 36 11 9 

sex: 

Male ............................................................... 8,105 7,580 330 537 225 139 

Female.. ............................................................ 221 202 3 13 a 10 

Number of States licensed in: 

1 state .............................................................. 4,901 4,40+ 185 296 108 78 

2 states or rrwre ........................................................ 3.425 3,475 149 255 123 71 

Number of eve patient visits weekly: 

Under40visits ......................................................... 978 774 11 25 4 11 

40-79 visits ........................................................... 1,983 1,845 59 71 35 24 

80-l 19 visits .......................................................... 2,211 2.155 75 154 73 48 

120.159visits ......................................................... 2,041 2,010 103 192 73 42 

150-199 visits ......................................................... 512 504 29 43 25 12 

200 visits and over ...................................................... 503 594 57 55 19 11 

Number of office locations: 

O-l office’ ........................................................... 7,232 5,849 285 485 198 131 

2 offices ............................................................. 891 842 42 45 30 17 

3 offices ............................................................. 132 122 3 10 1 

4 offices or nwre ....................................................... 72 59 2 10 1 1 

Principal form of employment: 

Selfemployed: 

Solopranice ........................................................ 5.595 5,321 249 72 201 38 

Partnership ......................................................... 1,385 1,375 41 283 15 72 

Group practice ...................................................... 483 477 25 119 7 11 

Nongroup arrangement with other physicians .................................. 352 344 9 38 3 18 

Salaried: 

Hospital’ .......................................................... 153 130 2 10 3 

Nanhospital’ ....................................................... 250 235 7 28 3 7 

Number of patient services rendered: 

l-Zrervices .. ......................................................... 213 151 2 5 1 

34 services ........................................................... 1,439 1,273 29 30 17 18 

56 services ........................................................... 3,550 3,385 121 158 105 52 

7-8services.. ................................ . ........................ 2,643 2,585 131 285 93 54 

9.lOservicer .......................................................... 483 477 50 73 15 15 

Type of patient service rendered: 

Diagnostic examination (includes tonometwl .................................... 8,282 7,847 330 548 230 149 

Medical treatment ...................................................... 8.154 7.729 328 547 228 149 

Eve surgery ........................................................... 7.400 7,130 318 539 224 145 

Visual field examination and medical interpretation ............................... 7.802 7.451 321 532 225 145 

Fitting contact lenses ................................................... 4,834 4,733 271 450 190 114 

Orthoptictraining ...................................................... 2,710 2.643 132 300 89 75 

Prescribing low vision aids ................................................ 4.571 4,438 219 385 142 97 

Aniseikonic testing ..................................................... 785 757 53 78 22 15 

Tonographv .......................................................... 4.148 3,950 210 377 103 75 

Primary clinical specialty: 

General ophthalmology (medical and surgical) ................................... 7,955 7,533 321 514 220 145 

Cormal surgery ....................................................... 32 32 3 8 2 

Retinal surgery ....................................................... 95 94 9 2 1 

Pediatric ophthalmology ................................................. as 59 4 8 4 2 

Ophthalmic pathology ................................................... 14 11 1 1 

Neuro.ophthalmologv ................................................... 22 21 3 

Other .............................................................. 138 121 3 8 1 1 

‘Only 13 respondents reported no office location. 

zlncludes nongovernment hospitalsand city, coontv,State.and Federal hospitals. 

a Includes medical schools; citv, countv, State, and Federal agencies; and other Iall types of insurance carriers, pharmaceutical companies, corporations, voluntarv organizations, medical 

societies, associations, and so forthl. 

29 
Table 17. Number of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology and number who utilize one or more types of supplementary personnel and, of these, the number who utilize orthoptists, by 

selected characteristics of the user: United States, 1968 

Number Number of 

of clinical Basis of utilization of orthoptistr 

Characteristic practitioners utilizing Full-time Full-time Part-time Part-time of ophthal- supplementary unshared 1 shared 1 unshared 1 shared mology personnel 

Number of clinical practitioners 

All clinical practitioners . . . . . 6,327 7.882 93 327 82 ‘144 

- Age: 

Under35vears . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 781 745 5 67 7 20 

35-44years.......................,.................,................. 2,222 2.193 29 127 25 73 

45.54 years ........................ 1,927 186s 21 76 2E 21 

55-64 years ........................ 2,153 2.008 26 51 17 23 

65 years and over . . ........................ 1,244 1.067 14 15 4 8 

sex: 

Male .__ .,..,, _........ ........................ 8,106 7.68c 89 321 78 137 

Female ........................ 221 202 5 6 3 7 

Number of States licensed in: 

1 state . . . . ........................ 4,901 4,407 58 146 40 73 

2 states or more ........................ 3,426 3,475 36 180 41 72 

Number of eye patient visits weekly: 

Under 40 visits . . . . . . ........................ 978 774 5 37 4 10 

4079 visits ........................ 1,983 1,845 11 63 15 28 

80-l 19 visits .................. ........................ 2,211 2,155 21 82 24 46 

120.169visits ................. ........................ 2,041 2,010 27 37 22 38 

160-199 visits ................. ........................ 612 504 11 20 4 7 

200 visitsand over .............. ........................ 603 694 18 37 12 16 

Number of office locations: 

O-1 office’ ................... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,232 6,843 72 270 66 111 

2 offices ............................................................. 891 842 16 40 12 28 

Joffices.. ........................................................... 132 122 3 11 1 3 

4 offices or more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 69 2 5 2 2 

Principal form of employment: 

Self-employed: 

Solo practice , ...................... 5,695 5,321 61 35 65 33 

Partnership . . ...................... 1.385 1,376 13 104 6 63 

Group practice . ...................... 483 477 7 92 3 18 

Nongroup arrangement with other physicians ...................... 352 344 2 22 1 14 

Salaried: 

Hospital’ . . . . . .._............... 153 130 1 16 1 2 

Nonhospital’ . . . . . . . . . . .._....... 260 235 3 68 5 14 

Number of patient services rendered: 

l.Zservices ,_...........................,........................,.... 213 161 3 3 2 

34services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,439 1,273 2 21 8 17 

5Sservices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,550 3,385 24 63 21 25 

747services ,..........,......,......,,..,...,..........,......,...,... 2,643 2,586 41 385 42 76 

9.10serticer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 483 477 22 54 10 24 

Type of patient service rendered: 

Diagnostic examination lincluder tanometry) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,282 7,847 91 322 82 144 

Medical treatment ...................................................... 8,154 7,723 91 324 81 143 

Evesurgerv ........................................................... 7,400 7,130 90 317 81 135 

Visual field examination and medical interpretation .................. 7.802 7.451 89 309 81 137 

Fitting contact lenses ...................................... 4,834 4,733 67 256 56 112 

Orthoptic training ........................................ 2,710 2,643 76 260 63 104 

Prescribing low vision aids ................................... 4,571 4,438 69 235 50 101 

Aniseikanic testing ........................................ 786 757 19 43 8 24 

Tonography ............................................ 4,148 3.950 60 228 49 34 

Primary clinical specialty: 

General ophthalmolbgy (medical and surgical) ...................... 7,956 7,533 80 283 74 127 

carneal surgery .......................................... 32 32 2 2 1 2 

Retinal surgery .......................................... 95 94 6 1 2 

Pediatricophthalmology .................................... 63 63 IO 17 6 8 

Ophthalmic pathology ...................................... 14 11 2 

Neuro-ophthalmology ...................................... 22 21 6 3 

Other ................................................. 138 121 1 11 

‘Only 13 respondents reported no office location. 

’ Includes nongovernment hospitals and city. county. State,and Federal hospitals. 

‘Includes medical schools; city, ccwnt~, State, and Federal agencies: and other Iall types of insurance carriers. pharmaceutical companies, corporations, voluntary organizations, medical 

societies. associations, and so forth). 

30 
Table 18. Number of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology and number who utilize one or more types of supplementary personnel end, of these, the nun-r&r who utilize other clinical 

assistants, by selected characteristics of the user: United St&es, 1968 

Number Number of Basis of utilization of other 

of clinical practitioners I clinical assistants 

Characteristic xactitianen utilizing 

of ophthal- supplementary Full-time Full-time Part-time Part-time 

mobv PWSOiXX?l unshared shared unshared shared 

All clinical practitioners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,327 7,882 165 181 47 46 

Age: 

Under35years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .._.._.._.. 781 746 10 22 2 6 

3544years.......................................................,... 2,222 2,193 47 73 11 17 

45.54years ........................................................... 1,927 1,868 49 45 16 11 

S564vears ........................................................... 2,153 2.009 49 34 14 10 

66 yearsand over ........................................................ 1,244 1,067 10 7 3 2 

sex: 

Male ............................................................... 8.106 7,680 163 176 47 44 

Female .............................................................. 221 202 2 5 1 

Number of States licensed in: 

1state.. ............................................................ 4,901 4.407 89 92 20 29 

2 States or more ........................................................ 3,426 3,475 76 89 27 17 

Number of eye patient visits weekly: 

Under40visits ......................................................... 978 774 23 30 3 8 

40.79visits.. ......................................................... 1,983 1,845 29 20 7 12 

80.119virits .......................................................... 2,211 2,156 35 59 17 14 

120-159 visits ......................................................... 2,041 2,010 43 40 13 11 

160-199 visits ......................................................... 512 604 17 18 

200 visits and over ...................................................... 603 594 18 14 7 

Number of office locations: 

O-loffice’ ........................................................... 7,232 6,849 140 163 32 39 

2 offices ............................................................. 891 842 21 23 14 7 

3offices............................................................. 132 122 3 1 

4 offices or nwre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 69 3 

Principal form of employment: 

Self-employed: 

Solopractice........................................................ 5,695 6,321 112 14 38 8 

Partnership ......................................................... 1,385 1,376 18 66 3 20 

Grouppractice ...................................................... 483 477 8 51 1 7 

Nongroup arrangement with other physicians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ 352 344 7 12 1 5 

Salaried: 

Hospital’ .......................................................... 153 130 6 5 1 

Nonhospital’ ....................................................... 260 235 16 33 3 6 

Number of patient services rendered: 

l-Zservices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .._.. 213 161 < 4 2 2 

34services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..~............................. 1,439 1,273 1; 21 9 6 

5Sservices.. ......................................................... 3,556 3,385 Y 4E 18 13 

78services.. ......................................................... 2,643 2,586 5; 7E 19 21 

9-10 services .......................................................... 483 477 16 31 2 3 

Type of patient service rendered: 

Diagnostic examination (includes tonometrvl .................................... 8,282 7,847 161 18C 47 46 

Medicaltreatment ...................................................... 8,154 7,729 15i 176 44 45 

Evesurgerv ........................................................... Visual field examination and medical interpretation ................................ 

7,400 

7,802 

7,130 

7,451 

147 

151 

17c 

16: 

45 

43 

41 

42 

Fitting contact lenses .................................................... 4,834 4.733 107 125 29 30 

Orthoptictraining ...................................................... 2,710 2,643 s 91 18 22 

Prescribing low vision aids ................................................. 4,571 4.438 95 13c 22 30 

Aniseikonic testing ...................................................... 786 757 24 26 2 2 

Tonography .......................................................... 4,148 3,960 104 112 24 27 

Primary clinical Specialty: 

General cphthalmologv [medical and surgical) .................................... 7,956 7,533 147 16f 42 41 

Comeal surgery ........................................................ 32 32 1 3 

Retinalsurgery ........................................................ 95 94 E 3 2 

Pediatric ophthalmology .................................................. 69 69 1 3 1 

Ophthalmic pathology .................................................... 14 11 1 

Neuro-ophthalmology .................................................... 22 21 i 3 

Other............................................................... 138 121 7 9 2 3 

‘Only 13 respondents reported nooffice locatio‘n. 

s Includes nongovernment hospitals and city, county, State, and Federal hospitals. 

‘Includes medical schools; city. countv, State. and Federal agencies; and other (all typesof insurance carriers, pharmaceutical companies, corporations, voluntary organizations. medical 

societies,associations, and so forth). 

31 
Table 19. Number of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology and number who utilize one or more types of supplementary personnel and, of rhese,the number who utilize optometrists 

(performing refractions and prescribing lenses on own authority). by selected characteristics of the user: Ur!ifed States, 1968 

-

Number Number of Basisof utilization of optometrists 

of clinical practitioners (performing refractions and prescribing 

Characteristic Ixactitioners utilizing lenses on own authority) 

of aphthal- supplementary Full-time Full-time Part-time Part-time mology personnel unshared shared unshared shared 

Number of clinical practitioners 

All clinical practitioners .............................................. 8.327 70 103 27 22 

t 

Age: 

Under35vears ........................................................ 781 746 2 11 

3544vears.. ......................................................... 2,222 2,193 18 39 

45.54years.. ......................................................... 1,927 I .a68 22 27 

5554years.. ......................................................... 2,153 2,009 21 18 

65 years and over ....................................................... 1,244 1,067 7 8 

Sex: 

Male ............................................................... 6,106 7,680 69 96 26 22 

Female.. ............................................................ 221 202 1 7 1 

Number of States licensed in: 

1 state .............................................................. 4,901 4.407 40 55 17 12 

2Statesormore ........................................................ 3,426 3,475 30 48 10 10 

Number of eye patient visits weekly: 

Under40 visits . ..................................................... 978 774 4 6 2 

40-79vislrs.. ......................................................... 1,983 1,845 9 19 3 3 

90~119visits .......................................................... 2,211 2,156 16 25 8 IO 

120.159visits ......................................................... 2,041 2,010 17 33 5 4 

160.199visits ......................................................... 512 504 7 8 2 2 

200 vises and over ...................................................... 603 594 18 12 7 2 

Number of office locations: 

O-1 office’ ........................................................... 7,232 6,849 57 86 16 18 

2offices ............................................................. 891 842 13 11 6 2 

3offices ............................................................. 132 122 2 4 1 

4 offices or more ....................................................... 72 69 3 1 1 

Principal form of employment: 

Self.employed: 

Solopranice ........................................................ 5,695 5,321 50 12 24 2 

Partnership ......................................................... 1,385 1,376 4 28 9 

Group practice ................. . .................................... 483 477 11 50 1 9 

Nongroup arrangement with other physicians . . . . 352 344 2 3 1 

Salaried: 

Hospital’ .,___,...,..,.....,,...,...,..,...,...,_.,...,..,,..,..,,. 153 130 1 7 2 

Nonhospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260 235 1 2 1 

Number of patient services rendered: 

l-2services ,...._,,.,,..,._.,_..,,.,,.....,,.,....,..,,..,..,,.,....,. 213 161 2 

34services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,439 1,273 7 18 2 4 

5Sservices.. ......................................................... 3,550 3,385 22 42 16 4 

7-8services.. ......................................................... 2,643 2,586 32 32 7 8 

9-lOservices .......................................................... 483 477 9 9 2 1 

Type of patient service rendered: 

Diagnostic examination Iincludes tanometrvl .................................... 8,282 7,847 70 103 27 22 

Medical treatment ...................................................... 8,154 7,729 69 102 26 22 

Evesurgerv ........................................................... 7,400 7,130 67 99 26 22 

Visual field examination and medical interpretation ................................ 7,602 7,451 69 93 27 22 

Fitting contact lenses .................................................... 4,834 4.733 55 56 16 14 

Orthoptic training ...................................................... 2,710 2,643 20 41 8 9 

Prescribing low vision aids ................................................. 4,571 4,438 47 57 15 10 

Aniseikonic testing ...................................................... 786 757 11 12 4 1 

Tonographv .......................................................... 4,148 3,950 5c 60 12 12 

Primary clinical specialty: 

General ophthalmology (medical and surgical) .................................... 7,956 7,533 6@ 92 27 22 

Comeal surgery ........................................................ 32 32 3 

Retinalsurgery ........................................................ 95 94 5 

Pediatric ophthalmology .................................................. 69 69 2 

Ophthalmic pathology .................................................... 14 11 

Neuro-ophthalmolqv .................................................... 22 21 

Other.. ............................................................. 138 121 

‘Only 13 respondentsreported no office location. 

‘Includes nongovernment hospitals and city, county,State, and Federal hospitals. 

‘Includes medical schools: city, county. State, and Federal agencies; and other (all types of insurance carriers, pharmaceutical companies, corporations. voluntary organizations. medical 

societies, associations, and so forth). 

32 
Table 20. Number of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology and number who utilize one or more types of supplementary personnel and, of 

these, number of practitioners who share the services of supplementary personnel with associates, and number of associates with who’m 

supple,mentary personnel are shared, by geographic location: ,United States, 1968 

Number 

of clinical supplementary personnel are shared 

Geographic location practitioners ~ of ophthalmology 

Number of clinical practitioners 

United States . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,327 7,882 2,749 189 1,235 852 473 

Geographic region: 

Northeast ................ 2,362 2,136 543 41 256 161 85 

North Central .............. 2,068 1,968 799 63 337 244 155 

South ................... 2,175 2,103 775 53 341 254 127 

West .................... 1,733 1,676 631 32 301 193 105 

Geographic division: 

New England .............. 535 496 126 7 48. 38 33 

Middle Atlantic ............ 1,827 1,640 417 35 208 123 52 

East North Central .......... 1,468 1,396 539 46 230 168 96 

West North Central .......... 590 571 259 17 107 76 59 

South Atlantic .............. 1,134 1,091 389 30 162 134 63 

East South Central .......... 360 351 129 9 53 43 24 

West South Central .......... 680 661 258 15 126 77 41 

Mountain ................ 392 383 127 13 66 37 12 

Pacific .................. 1,341 1,292 504 19 236 156 94 

Standard Federal administrative 

region:* 

Region I ................. 535 496 126 7 48 38 33 

Region II.. ............... 1,279 1,148 303 22 155 90 35 

Region III ................ 1,016 938 278 23 123 86 43 

Region IV ................ 1.027 995 355 26 146 121 59 

Region V ................. 1,615 1,539 619 48 265 185 122 

Region VI ................ 725 705 267 15 131 80 42 

Region VII ............... 401 387 167 12 69 54 30 

Region VIII ............... 262 255 84 7 34 31 10 

Region IX ................ 1,167 1,119 435 22 215 126 71 

Region X ................. 302 299 114 3 49 36 25 

’ Of “associates” who share the services of supplementary personnel, over 95 percent are reported to be physicians; in the great majority of 

cases (again more than 95 percent of cases), they are other ophthalmologists. 

‘Explanation of standard Federal administrative regions and States within each region is contained in appendix II. 

33 
Table 21. Number of clinical practitioners of ophthalmology and number who utilize one or more types of supplementary personnel and.of these, number of practitioners who share the s%t!ices 

of supplementary psrsonnel with associates, and number of associates with whom supplementary personnel we shared, by selected characteristics of the practitioner: United States, 1968 

Number of Number of Number of associates with whom practitioners practitioners who share supplementary personnel are shared 

Characteristic utilizing 

supplementary supplementar\ 1 2 34 5 associates psrsonnsl witt Personnel asSDCiatesl associate associates associates or more 

Number of clinical practitioners 

Age: 2 .74911 1,235 

Under 35 years .................... . . . . . ........... 781 746 405 23 187 121 74 

3544 years ...................... ........... 2,222 2,193 926 43 426 295 162 

45-54 ve*rs ...................... ........... 1,927 1868 630 53 261 191 126 

5564 years ...................... ........... 2,153 2,009 536 41 236 166 95 

65 years and over .................. 1,244 1,067 246 28 124 77 17 

All clinical practitioners . . . . . . . 6.327 852 473 

sex: 

Male.. ......................... ...... ........... 8,106 7,680 2,665 186 1,195 822 462 

Female ......................... ...... ........... 221 202 83 3 40 29 Ii 

Number of States licensed in: 

1 state ......................... ........... 4,901 4,407 1,478 110 679 466 231 

PStaesormore ................... ........... 3,426 3,475 1,272 79 657 394 242 

Number of eve patient visits weekly: 

Under 40 visits .................... ............ 978 774 221 19 76 61 66 

40-79 visits ....................... ............ 1,983 1.845 507 41 213 147 106 

80-l 19 visits ...................... ............ 2,211 2,166 782 50 370 249 113 

120-159 visits ..................... ............ 2,041 2,010 786 51 353 243 139 

160-199 visit3 ..................... ............ 512 504 202 13 96 65 29 

200 visits and over .................. 603 694 251 14 129 87 21 

Number of office locations: 

O-l office’ ....................... ............ 7,232 6,849 2,324 164 1,066 719 375 

2 offices ........................ ............ 891 842 332 19 141 98 74 

3 offices ........................ ............ 132 122 60 6 IQ I6 18 

4officesormore.. ................. i2 69 36 1 10 17 7 

Principal form of emplovment: 

Selfemployed: 

Solo practice ..................... ...... 5,695 5,321 536 68 271 129 68 

Partnership ...................... ...... ....... 1,385 1,376 1,251 76 670 381 124 

Group practice .................... ...... ....... 483 477 396 15 79 163 141 

Nongroup arrangement with other physicians ...... ....... 352 344 301 18 178 a7 18 

Salaried: 

Hospital3 ........................ ...... 153 130 66 9 13 20 43 

Nonhospital ..................... ...... 260 235 178 3 26 71 79 

Number of patient services rendered: 

1-2 services ....................... ............ 213 161 39 4 17 15 3 

34 servicqs ....................... ............ 1,439 1,273 346 39 147 95 64 

56 services ....................... ............ 3,550 3,385 1,038 79 498 300 161 

7-S services ....................... ............ 2,643 2,596 1,111 60 486 363 2oq 

9-10 services ...................... ............ 483 477 216 7 85 79 44 

Type of patient service rendered: 

Diagnostic examination (includes tonometrv) ............ s.zs2 7,647 2,736 187 1,233 a44 472 

Medical treatment .................. ............ 8,154 7,729 2,708 163 1,220 836 469 

Eve surgery. . . . . ............ 7,400 7,130 2,584 170 1,166 797 451 

Visual field examination and medical interpretation ............ 7,802 7,451 2,615 174 1,182 a10 449 

Fitting contact lenses 

Orthoptic training . . 

............ 

............ 4834 

2,710 

4;133

2,643 

1,808 

1,124 

103 

55 

650 

467 

561 

400 

294 

202 

Prescribing low vision aids . ............ 4,571 4,438 1,709 98 778 635 298 

Aniseikonic testing . . ............ 786 757 278 16 126 83 54 

Tonographv . . . ............ 4,148 3,953 1,563 94 637 627 305 

Primary clinical specialty: 

General ophthalmology (medical and surgical1 ....... ...... 7.956 7,533 2.566 176 1,184 790 416 

Corned surgery . . . ....... ...... 32 32 22 1 6 7 8 

Retinal surgery . . . . ....... ...... 95 94 54 2 16 18 18 

Pediatricophthalmology . ....... ...... 69 69 43 4 17 15 7 

Ophthalmic pathology . ....... ...... 14 11 6 4 2 

Neuro-ophthalmology ....... ...... 22 21 IO 2 6 

Other .._....._....._.___._._. ....... ...... 138 121 50 6 13 15 16 

‘Of “associates” who share the services of supplementary personnel. over 95 percent we reported to be physicians; in ! great majority of cases (again. more than 95 percent of cased. they 

are other ophthalmologists. 

‘Ohlv 13 respondents reported no office location. 

‘Includes nongovernment hospitals and citv, coun*v, State, and Federal l?ospitals. 

’ Includes medical schools; city. countv, State, and Federal agencies: and other (all tvpesof insurancecarrierr,pharmaceutical companies,corporations, voluntarv organizations, medical societies, 

associations, and so forth). 

34 
:APPENDIX I 

TECHNICAL NOTES 

Data Collection 

‘Most of the statistical information used in this 

report is the product of a survey of pphth,almologists conducted by the National Center for 

Health Statistics between May and December 

1968. This was a part of a general survey of 

eye-care manpower which sought information 

on four groups: ophthalmologists (both doctors 

bf medicine and doctors of osteopathy), opton& 

etrists, optic&n-y establishments, and dispensing 

opticians. 

In advance of the actual survey of ophthalmologists, prominent ophthallpological associations received copies of the proposed questionnaires and survey plan. A number of government 

agencies-Federal, State, and local-were also 

cant acted. Recommendations received from 

these advisory sources were used to modify the 

survey plan and questionnaires. 

An announcement of the survey .MBSpubiished by the Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat 

Monthly, The Ophthalmologist, and the newsletter of the American Osteopat,hic Association. 

The American Association of Ophthalmology 

cooperated by sending a letter to ‘each of its 

members, urging their participation. 

A total of 10,302 ophthaltiologists comprised 

the survey universe, a figure tihich included 

both doctors of medicine (I$.D.‘s) and doctors 

of osteopathy (D.F.‘s). M.D; ophthalmologisfs 

surveyed included all those Who had repqrted to 

the American Medical Association that ophthalmology was their primary or secondary specialty. Of the 10,102 M.D. ophthalmologists 

surveyed, 9,020 (89.2 percent) listed ophthalmology as their primary specialty, while 1,082 

(10.7 percent) designated it as their secondary 

specialty. 

D.0: ophthalmologists included in the survey 

universe were all doctors of osteopathy who had 

reported to the American Osteopathi,< Association that they devoted any time wh?tever to 

bphthalmology. Of the 200 D.O. ophthalmologists surveyed, 17 (8.5 percent) had reported 

that they devoted 75 percent or more of their 

workweek to ophthalmology. An additional 21 

(10.5 percent) reported between 50 and 75 percent, while the remaining 145 (72.5 percent) 

apparently devoted under 25 percent of their 

workweek to ophthalmological activities. 

A pretest was conducted’by the National Center for Health Statistics during the l-month 

period May 31 to July 3, 1968. Questionnaires 

were mailed to two M.D. ophthalmologists in 

each Sta.te and the District of Cqlumbia. 

Twenty-five D.O. ophthalmologists were selected at random and mailed questionnaires. A 

90.5-percent response to the pretest was 

achieved and, based on an analysis of this pretest 

respbrise, certain minor alterations were made in 

the M.D. questionnaire and the D-0. questionnaire. The revised questionnaires, as they were 

used in’final form? appear in appendix III. 

In the remaining months of 1968, the main 

body of .the ophthalmologist universe was surveycd. The. collection of data for the survey was 

,acdomplished under contract with the U.S. 

Bureau of the Census.‘This agency was responsible for the mailings of the questionnaires, receipt and control of the responses, and for followup whenever incomplete or inadequate 

qgestionnaires were returned or whenever a 

questionnaire was not returned. Three’mailings 

were used in an attempt to elicit a response, the 

first two by fir&-class mail; the last by certified 

mail. All three ,mailings were made in every ca’se 

where a retuin was not received. 

35 
In addition to the mailings, telephone contacts and personal interviews were also used. 

They were employed in cases of nonresponse or 

refusal, as well as in cases of questionnaires 

which had been only partially completed. 

After all contact efforts, a response rate of 

92.7 percent was achieved. 

In addition to the information obtained directly from the survey respondents, the reports on 

ophthalmologist manpower also use supplementary information supplied by the American 

Medical Association and the American Osteopathic Association for such characteristics as 

sex, chronological age, age at graduation, and 

certification by specialty boards. 

Processing of Data 

A preliminary edit was undertaken at the time 

of the return of the survey questionnaires. This 

was done to insure completeness of the responses. The information from the questionnaires 

was then coded, punched, and placed on computer tape. 

During the cleanup and editing phases of the 

processing, an elaborate series of checks and 

cross-checks. ‘were made, chiefly to confirm accuracy of respons?, and to correct coding and 

punching errors that occurred, but also to insure 

consistency between related items. 

Table I shows the overall response to the survey. Of the total 10,302 M.D. and D.O. ophthaImologists included in the original survey universe, .1,245 (12.1 percent) were eliminated in 

processing as out of scope for the purposes of 

reporting. These out of scopes included: 133 respondents who were either practicing ophthalmology in foreign countries or not engaged at all 

in the practice of ophthalmology; 233 uniformed ophthalmologists (in the Army, Navy, 

Air Force, and U.S. Public Health Service) ; and 

879 students in ophthalmology residency programs (both civilian and military). “Data reported, then, are for civilian (nonuniformed) 

ophthalmologists who had completed their training requirements and were formally qualified to 

practice. In number, this group amounted to 

9,057 ophthalmologists, or 87.9 percent of the 

original universe. 

A total of 8,136, or 90.0 percent of the 

9,057, responded to the survey with usable 

questionnaires. The remainder was composed of 

675 nonrespondents (i.e., no questionnaires returned, reason unspecified); 186 post-master returns; and 60 nonrespondents, deceased; or 7.5 

percent, 1.8 percent, and 0.6 percent, respectively. 

Of these 8,136 usable questionnaires (good responses), 7,741 (95.1 percent) specified an active status, while 395, reported that they were 

either retired or not -currently engaged in ophthalmologicalactivities although nonretired. 

Adjustments 

Two types of adjustment were applied to the 

survey responses. 

The first was an adjustment for partial nonresponse within the questionnaire; for example, 

leaving one item unanswered. In such cases, 

omitted items were randomly assigned the response obtained from respondents with similar 

characteristics, and the total response figure for 

the item was adjusted to include this “imputation.” As may be seen in table II, the need for 

this type of adjustment was minimal; the partial 

nonresponse rate was less than 4 percent for all 

items considered in this report except for the 

questions as to patient visits and patients seen 

per week. To the question, “In your CLINICAL 

OPHTHALMOLOGY practice, APPROXIMATELY how many EYE patient VISITS do 

you have during a typical week? (Include office 

and hospital outpatient visits),” there was a nonresponse rate of 7.6 percent. It is possible that 

this was in part due to the need fo make a quantified estimate based on an arbitrary judgment 

of typicality. To the question, “APPROXIMATELY how many EYE PATIENTS does this 

represent? (Patients with multiple visits should 

be counted only once.),” there was a nonresponse rate of 7.8 percent. Here, the respondent 

was asked to make a quantified estimate which 

is itself a second-order derivation from another 

quantified estimate. This rather difficult requirement may have caused this item to exhibit a 

higher nonresponse rate than any other in the 

questionnaire. 

In addition to the adjustment for item nonre-’ 

sponse, an adjustment was also made for total 

nonresponse, i.e., for nonavailability of the 

entire questionnaire. This “inflation” factor was 

36 
Table I. Preadjustment frequency and percent distribution of survey population by type of respondent or 

nonrespondent: United States, 1968 

-

‘ercent 

Type of respondent or nonrespondent Number of 

Total questionnaires mailed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Out of scopes: 

Not practicing in the United States or not engaged at all in 

ophthalmological activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ‘. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Uniformed ophthalmologists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Student residents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Civilian, formally qualified ophthalmologists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Civilian, formally qualified ophthalmologists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Nonavailable questionnaires: 

Nonrespondents (reason unspecified) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Postmaster returns . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .‘. . . . 

Nonrespondents (deceased) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Good responses . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Good responses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Active ophthalmologists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Inactive ophthalmologists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

total 

10,302 100.0 

133 1.3 

233 2.3 

879 8.5 

9,057 87.9 

9,057 100.0 

675 7.5 

186 1.8 

60 0.6 

8,136 90.0 

8,136 100.0 

7,741 95.1 

395 4.9 

Table II. Percent of active ophthalmologists responding to 

selected questions on survey questionnaires: United States, 

1968 

-

Selected questions ‘ercent 

Activity status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

States licensed in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Principal form of employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Weeks per year usually worked . ; . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Hours per week usually worked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Clinical and nonclinical activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Primary clinical activity (ophthalmological specialty) . 

Use of supplementary personnel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Patient services rendered . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Number of office locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Visits by eye patients per week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Number of eye patients seen weekly . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Associates sharing supplementary personnel . . . . . . . 

Physicians sharing supplementary personnel . . . . . . . 

Ophthalmologists sharing supplementary personnel . . 

100.0 

97.4 

98.1 

96.6 

96.4 

97.1 

969 

97.0 

97.2 

96.8 

92.4 

92.2 

98.2 

98.2 

98.2 

established from the ratio of total ophthalmologists in a civilian, formally qualified status to 

the number of usable (good) responses obtained. 

The national inffation factor was, therefore, 

9,057:8,136, or 1 + .113. Applied to the 7,741 

active, good respondents cited above, it produced, a weighted, national estimate of 8,616 

ophthalmologists who were active, nonuniformed, and formahy qualified in the United 

States in 1968. 

The User of Supplementary PersonnelA Subuniverse 

Of these 8,616 active ophthalmologists, a 

weighted estimate of 8,327 engaged in clinical 

practice in the sense that they devoted some 

37 
portion of their time per week-however small 

that portion-to the direct diagnosis and treatment of eye patients (established by question 9 

of the M.D. questionnaire and question 11 of 

the D.O. questionnaire, see appendix III). From 

these 8,327 clinical practitioners, the responses 

to question 14 of the M.D. questionnaire and 

question 16 of the D.O. questionnaire further 

isolated a “user” subuniverse; i.e., 7,882 

respondents who reported that they were assisted by supplementary personnel. It is these 

7,882 users of supplementary personnel and 

their cumulative reports of utilization for each 

of eight types of supplementary personnel, according to each of the four bases of utilization, 

which supply the statistical base for most of the 

tables and textual commentary that appear in 

this report. 

38 
APPENDIX II 

DEFINITIONS OF TERMS 

Demographic Terms 

Age.-Refers to the respondent’s age in 1968. 

In all cases, it is calculated as the difference 

between 1968 and respondent’s year of birth. 

Geographic area.-The United States (the 50 

States and the District ,of‘Columbia) is divided 

into four census regions and nine census divisions, and into IO Standard Federal Administrative Regions as follows: 

&m&-d Fedeml 

Administrative Regions 

Region I .............. 

Region II .............. 

Region III ............. 

Region IV ............. 

Region V .............. 

Region VI ............. 

Region VII ............. 

Region VIII ............ 

Region IX ............. 

Region X .............. 

States iduded 

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode 

Island, Vermont 

New York, New Jersey 

Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, 

Virginia, West Virginia 

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, 

Kentucky, Mississippi, North 

.Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee 

Iliinois, Indiana, Minnesota, 

Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin 

Arkansas, Louisiana, New 

Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas 

Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska 

Colorado,, Montana, North 

Dakota, South Dakota 

Arizona, California, Hawaii, 

Nevada 

Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington 

CensusRegions 

and divisions 

Northeast 

New England . . . . . . . . . 

Middle Atlantic . . . . . . . . 

North Central 

EastNorthCentral . . . . . 

West North Central . . . . . 

SOUth 

East South Central . . . . . 

West South Central . . . . . 

South Atlantic . . . . . . . . 

West 

Mountain . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Pacific . . . , . . . . . . . . . . 

States included 

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode 

Island, Vermont 

New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania 

Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, 

Ohio, Wisconsin 

Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota 

Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee 

Arkansas, Louisiana, Okiahoma, Texas 

Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South 

Carolina, Virginia, West 

Virginia 

Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, 

Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming 

Alaska, California, Hawaii, 

Oregon, Washington 

United States.-The 50 States and the District 

of Columbia. 

Terms Relating to Ophthalmology 

Administration.-As defined in the survey 

questionnaires, duties with. professional associations, hospital medical staffs, etc. Administrative duties related to the medical care of the 

ophthalmologist’s own patients are excluded 

from this hind of activity and included under 

specific clinical activity engaged in. 

Associates.-As used in this report, signifies all 

medical professionals, and other professionals in 

medically related fields, such as optometrists. 

39 
Clinical.-Signifies professional activity characterized by direct patient care. 

Group practice.-The delivery of medical services by three or more physicians formally organized to provide medical care, consultation, diagnosis, and/or treatment through the joint use of 

equipment and personnel, and with the income 

from medical practice distributed in accordance 

with methods previously determined by members of the group. 

Hospital employment.-Salaried employment 

by nongovernmental hospitals and by city, 

county, State, and Federal hospitals. 

Nonhospital employment.-Salaried employment by medical school (or parent university) ; 

city, county, State, and Federal Governments 

(other than hospitals) ; and by “other” employers (all types of insurance carriers, pharmaceutical companies, corporations, voluntary organizations, medical societies, associations, and so 

forth). 

OcuZist.-Used interchangeably with 

“ophthalmologist.” 

OphthalmoZogkt.-A physician who specializes in ophthalmology, that branch of medical 

science dealing with the structure, functions, 

and diseases of the eye. 

Optometrist.-A specialist in optometry, the 

profession of examining the eye for defects and 

faults of refraction and prescribing correctional 

lenses or exercises. 

Otolaryngologist.-Used interchangeably with 

~‘otorhin0laryng0logist”; signifies a medical specialist who diagnoses and treats diseases of the 

ear, nose, and throat. 

40 
APPENDIX III 

SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRES 

DOCTOR OF MEDICINE QUESTIONNAIRE 

PHS-7.407-l 

REV. 8-68 Form Appmved 

Budget Bureau No. 68468028 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

B”RE*” OF THE CENSUS 

ACTlNG AS COLLECTING AGENT FOR TNE 

U.S. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE 

CONFIDENTIAL: All information which permits the 

identification of the individual will be held strictly 

confidential, will be used solely by persons engaged 

in, and only for the purpposes of the survey and will 

not be disclosed or released to ocher persons or 

for any other purpose. 

‘SURVEY OF 

OPHTHALMOLbGISTS 

1. Is your name correct, and is the address abol PRIMARY PLACE OF PRACTICE? 

1 0 Yes 20 4 No 

If no, please alter the t information below: 

Name: Fir.72 Middle L7st 

P&my place of practice: Number streer 

City Slate Zip Code 

Where were you born? 

3. In which States do you currently hold an ACTIVE LICENSE to practice medicine? 

4. Are you -iin medicine? (/n&de potieyt arei teaching, research, and administration.) 

10 Yes, Full-time 00 No, Not active in medicine 

20 Yes, Part-time 40 No, Retired 

PROCEED TO STOP! 

QUESTION 5. REMAINDER OF QUESTIONNAIRE DOES NOT 4 APPLY. PLEASE RETURN QUESTIONNAIRE IN JTHE ENVELOPE PROVIDED. 

PAGE 1 

2 
5. Which of the following categories best describes your PRINCIPAL form of practice or employment? (Check nn_e) ” -

0 I 0 Solo practice 

02 0 Partnership practice If you hove checked 02, 03, or 04, whot is 

*the noma of your GROUP, PARTNERSHIP 

o3 0 Group practice or NON-GROUP ARRANGEMENT? . 

04 0 Arrangement with other physician(s): non-group Name of group: 

0 I 0 Medical school (or pareof universify) 

o (I 0 Non-governmental hospital 

07 0 City or county government hospital 

08 0 City or county government other than hospital 

OQ 0 State government hospital 

10 0 State government other than hospital 

I 1 0 Federal government hospital (Specify agency: ) 

I z 0 Federal government other than hospital (Speci/y qenoy: ) 

t s n Other - Not listed above (all types of insutmce &em, phannaceu~ical companies, corporafions, voluntary otganiza. 

tions, medical societies, associations, etc.): 

6. In your PRINCIPAL form of practice or employment indicated in Item 5, are you PRIMARILY: 

(Check -one) 

I 0 Self-employed 

2 0 Salaried employee (ofher than in training or in milifary service) 

s 0 1n he military service (~tber th intern 01 resident) 

4 n Intern - Civilian 

r 0 Intern - Military 

e 0 Resrdent or fellow - Civilian 

r 0 Resident or fellow - Military 

7. How many WEEKS per year do you usually practice medicine? (Include patient care, teaching, research, and 

administration. Do not count vacations as weeks worked). 

(Weeks per year) 

8. How many HOURS per week do you usually practice medicine ? (Include patient care, teaching, research, and 

administration.) 

(Houts per week) 

9. APPROXIMATELY what PERCENT of the total number of hours per week, indicated in Item 8, do you usually s.pend 

in each of the following activities? 

a. % Cl hiical ophthalmology 

b. % Clinical.otorhinolaryngology 

C. % Other clinical medical activity 

d. % Teaching (Include hours spent in preparation) 

e. % Medical research 

f. ,% Administration, e.g.,, professional associations, hospital medical staffs, etc. (Administrative duties 

related to the medical care o/ your 0 WN patients should be exciuded in / and included in a, b. or 4) -

EC- % Other (Specify: ) 

100 % TOTAL, 

.. If 0% of your time is spent in CLINICAL OPHTHALMOLOGY (Item 90 above), w,ond return qusstionhoirs in the 

onSolope provided; otherwise continue. 

42 
10. A. In your CLINICAL OPHTHALOMOLOGY practice, APPROXIMATELY how many= patient VISITS do you have 

during a typical week? (Include office and hospital outpatient visits) 

(Approximate number of visits) 

B. APPROXIMATELY how many EYE PATIENTS does this represent. 7 (Patients with multiple visits should be 

counted only once.) 

(Approximate number of patients) 

11. In your CLINICAL OPHTHALMOLOGY practice, which of the services below are rendered to your patients by you or 

under your direction? 

(Check d that apply) 

Diagnostic examination (inchiesrejractive procedures and tonometry) 

Medical treatment 

Eye surgery 

Visual field examination and medical interpretation 

Fitting contact lenses 

Orthoptic training (any procedure to improve acuity or binocularify) 

Prescribing low vision aids (includes opticaL aids greater than t 4.00 addition) 

Aniseikonic testing 

Tonography 

Other (specify: 

13. In your CLINICAL OPHTHALMOLOGY practice, which of the following categories best describes how you spend the 

GREATEST amount of your time? 

(Check ,- one) 

1 0 General ophthalmology, medical and surgical 

2 Cl Cornea1 surgery 

3 0 Retinal surgery 

4 0 Pediatric ophthalmology 

5 0 Ophthalm& pathology 

.S 0 Neuro-ophthalmology 

7 El Other (Specify: 1 

13. What is the total number of office locations at which you currently practice CLINICAL OPHTHALMOLOGY? 

(Number of locations) 

PHS-l-407-1 (PAGE 3) 

REV. S-68 

43 
14. ‘In your PRINCIPAL FORM OF PRACTICE OR EMPLOYMENT, indicated in Item 5above, do you have supplementary 

personnel to assist you? 

Please indicate the NUMBER in each category below for ALL offices combined which are related to your 

principal form of practice or employment. Include hospital personnel ONLY if your principal form of 

practice or employment is hospital-based. 

(Persons who spend less than 75% of their time in any one category below should be counted in category d, 

ophthalmic medical assistant-general.) 

NUMBER WI10 WORK FULL-TIME NUMBERWIIO WORK PART-TIME 

(35 hours or mote per week) (Less than 95 hours per week) 

FOR YOU FOR YOUAND FORYOU FOR YOU AND 

AI.ONE ASSOCIATES AL.ONE ASSOClATF:S 

a. Secretaries, receptionists, and 

other administrative personnel . , . . . , - . . . . . . . . . . . . - . . . . -

b. Registered nurses. . . . . . . . . . _ . . . . .-.. .- . . . . . . . . . . 

c. Licensed practical nurses (or L.V.N.‘s) . . _ . . _ . . . . . . . . . . 

d. Ophthalmic medical assistants-general. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

e. Ophthalmic medical assistants-refractive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

f. Optical fitters (including opticians) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

8. Contact lens technicians. . . . . . . . . . , - . . . . - . . . . . a.. __ .a..­

h. Optical technicians (laboratory -

ophthalmic or contact lenses) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

i. Orthoptists. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..a. 

i. Other clinical assistants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

k. Optometrists (performing refractions and 

prescribing lenses on OWN authoriiy). . . - . . . . . . . . . .a. - . ..* - .-

15A. If you hove made ontries under FOR YOU AND ASSOCIATES in the full-time or part-time columns in Itom 14 above, 

how mony associates, COUNTING YOURSELF, share those personnel? 

(Number of associates) 

6. Of those arsociatos, how mony are PHYSICIANS, COUNTING YOURSELF? 

(Number of physicians) 

C. Of theso physicians, how many are OPHTHALMOLOGISTS, COUNTING YOURSELF? 

(Number o/ ophfhalmologisfs) 

COMMENTS - General comments are invited as well as comments on specific items: 

PLEASE RETURN QUESTIONNAIRE IN THE STAMPED ENVELOPE PROVIDED. I 

PHS-T407-1 I PAG E 4) 

R?“. G-60 

44 
DOCTOR OF OSTEOPATHY QUESTIONNAIRE 

PHS-T407-2 

REV. S-68 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

B”RE/\” OF THE CENS”S 

ICTING As COLLECTING AGENT FOR THE 

U.S. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVtCE 

CONFIDENTIAL.: All information which permits 

the identification of the individual will be held 

strictly confidemisl, will be used solely by persons 

engaged in, and only for the purposes of the survey 

and till not be disdoscd or released to other 

persons or for any other purposea 

SURVEY OF 

OPHTHALMOLOGISTS 

1. IS your name COWX~, and is the address above your PRIMARY PLACE OF PRACTICE? 

t 0 Yes zn No 

If no,t please enter the correct information below: 

Name: First Middle Last 

Primary place of practice: Number Sfreet 

Cify star c Zip Code 

2. Where were you born? 

(Stale 01 foreign counlry) 

3. Are you a citizen of the United Stotes? (Please check appropriate box) 

I 0 Yes, Native Born e 0 Yes, Natumlized J 0 No 

4. What degrees have you earned OTHER THAN D oc t or of Osteopathy or Doctor of Medicine? (Check -a// that app/yy) 

I 0 Doctonte (Speci,fy Major Field 

z 0’ Master’s (Specify Major Field: 

J 0 Bachelor’s (Specify Major Field 

4 0 Other(Speti/y: 

5 0 None 

5. In which States do you currently hold an ACTIVE LICENSEto practice osteopathic medicine? 

6. Are you CURRENTLY ACTIVE in osteopathic medicine? (Include patient care, teaching, research cmd administration). 

No, Not active in osteopathic medicine 

: F 1 fll: ::I:;: : 0” 1 No, Retired 

I 

PROCEED To 

Question 7. Remainder of questionnaire das not appl;. Please 

I I return questionmire in the envelope provided.

PAGE 1 

45 
7, Which of the following categoriqs best describes your PRINCIPAL form of practice or employment? 

(Check one) 

01 0 Solo practice 

02 0 Partnership practice If you have checked 02, 03, 01 04, whai is 

QJ 0 Group practice W the name of your GROUP, PARTNERSHIP 

04 0 Arrangement with other physician(s): lion-group 01 NON-GROUP ARRANGEMENT? 

06 0 Osteopathic medical school (or parent university) 

O.S 0 Non-governmental hospital ‘Noms of group: 

07 0 City or q?unty government hospital 

08 0’ City or c&my government other than hospital 

09 0 State government hospital 

I o 0 State government other than hospital 

I I 0 Federal government hospital (Specify agency: 

I 7 0 Fedeial government other than hospital (Specify agency: ) 

I 3 0 Other-Not listed above (all types of insurance carriers, pharmaceutical companies, corporations, 

voluntary organizations. medical societies, associations, etc.). 

8. In your PRINCIPAL form of practice ot employment indicated in Item 7, ore you PRIMARILY: 

(Check -one) 

I 0 Self- employed 

2 0 Salaried employee (Other than in training or in military seruice) 

J 0 In the military servile (Other thy? intern or resident) 

4 0 Intern - Civilian 

I 0 Intern -,Military 

6 0 Resident or fellow - Civilian 

7 0 Resident or fellow - Military 

9. How many WEEKS per year do you usually practice osteopathic medicine? (/nc/uc/e patient care, toeching, 

reseclrch, or odministrution. Do not count vocations as weeks worked.) 

(Weeks per year) 

10. How many HOURS per week do you usually practice osteopathic medicine? (Iuclude ,patiemt care, teaching, 

research, or administration.) 

(Hours per week) 

11. APPROXIMATELY whot PERCENT of the total number of hours per week, indicated in Item i0, do you usually 

spend in each of the following activities? 

a. % Clinical ophthalmology 

b. % Clinical otorhinolaryngology 

c. % Other clinical osteopathic medical activity 

d. % Teaching (include hours spent in preparation.) 

e. % Osteopathic medical research 

f. % Administration, e.g., professional associations, hospital medical staffs, etc. (Administraiive 

duties related to the medical care of your OWN patients should be excluded in / and included 

in a, b. or c.) 

g- % Other (Specify ) 

100 % TOTAL 

If 0% of your time is spent in CLINICAL OPHTHALMOLOGY (Item 77a. above)~, and return questionnaire 

in the envelope provided; otherwise continue. 

PHS-T407-2 (PAGE 2)

(Rev. 8-681’ 

46 

1 
12. A. In your CLINICAL OPHTHALMOLOGY prpctice, APPROXIMATELY how’many EYE patient VISITS do you have 

during a typical week? (Include office and hospital outpatient visits) 

(Approxhnnte number of visits) 

B. APPROXIMATELY how many EYE PATIENTS d oes this represent? (Patients with multiple visits should be 

counted only once.) 

(Approximate number of patients) 

13. In your CLINICAL OPHTHALMOLOGY practice, which of the services below are rendered to your patients by you 

or under your direction? 

(Check -all that apply) 

o I 0 Diagnostic examination 

oz 0 Medical treatment 

03 0 Eye surgery 

o 4 17 Visual field examination 

05 I-J Fitting contact lenses 

oe 0 O&optic training (Any 

07 0 Prescribing low vision 

OFJ 0 Aniseikonic testing 

09 0 Tonography 

1 o 0 Other (Speci/y: 

(Includes refractive procedures and tonometry). 

and medical interpretation 

procedure to improve acuity OT binocularity) 

aids (Includes opticaZ,aids greater than +4.00 addition) 

14. In your CLINICAL OPHTHALMOLOGY practice, which of the following categories best describes how you spend 

the GREATEST amount of your time? 

(Check one)

-

I I-J General ophthalmology, 

2 n Cornea1 surgery 

3 0 Retinal surgery 

4 0 Pediatric ophthalmology 

* 3 0 Ophthalmic pathology 

6 0 Neuro-ophthalmology 

7 0 Other (Xpeci/y: 

medical and surgical 

) 

15: What is the total number of office locations at which you currently practice CLINICAL OPHTHALMOLOGY? 

(Number of locations) 

PHS-T407-2 (PAGE 3) 

(Rev. 848) 

47 
16. 1In your PRINCIPAL FORM OF PRACTICE OR EMPLOYMENT, indicated in Item 7 above, do you have supplementary 

personnel to assist you? 

P/ease indicate the NUMBER in each category belaw for ALL offices combined which ore re/otad to your 

principal form of practice or employment. include hospital personnel ONLY if your principal form of 

practice or employment is hospital-based. 

(Persons who spend less than 75% of their time in any one category below should be counted in category d, 

ophthalmic medical assistant-general.) 

NUMBER WHO WORK FULL-TIME NUMBER WHO WORK PART-TIME 

(35 hours or more per week) (Less than 35 hours per week) 

FOR YOU FOR YOU AND FOR YOU FOR YOU AND 

ALONE ASSOCIATES ALONE ASSOCIATES 

a. Secretaries, receptionists, and 

other administrative personnel . . . . - . . . . . _ . . . . . . . . . . 

b. Registered nurses. . . . _ . . . _ _ . _ . . _ . . . _ . . . . . . . . . . 

c. Licensed practical nurses (or L.V.N.‘s) - . . . . .-- . . . . - . . . . 

d. Ophthalmic medical assistants-general. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i 

e. Ophthalmic medical assistants-refractive - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

f. Optical fitters (including opticians) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

g. Contact lens technicians. _ . . . . . . . . . - . . . . - . . . . . . . . - . . . . 

h. Optical technicians (laboratory -

ophthalmic or contact lenses) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

1. Orthoptists. . . . . _ . . . . _ _ _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

i- Other clinical assistants. . . . . . _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

k. Optometrists (performing refractions and 

prescribing lenses on OWN authority). . . - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

17A. If you hove made entries under FOR YOU AND ASSOCIATES in the full-time or part-time columns in Item 16 above, 

how many associates, COUNTING YOURSELF, share these personnel? 

(Number of associates) 

B. Of these associates, how many are PHYSICIANS, COUNTING YOURSELF? 

(Number oj physicians) 

C. Of these physicians, how many are OPHTHALMOLOGISTS, COUNTING YOURSELF? 

(Number of ophthalmologists) 

COMMENTS - General comments are invited as well as comments on specific items: 

L PLEASE RETURN QUESTIONNAIRE IN THE STAMPED ENVELOPE PROVIDED. 

PHS-T407-2 t PAGE 4, 

(Rev. 8-68) 

48 Q U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1913 51%214/71 
VITAL AND HEALTH STATISTICS PUBLICATION SERIES 

Originally Public Health Service Publication No. 1000 

Series 1. Programs and collection procedures.- Reports which describe the general programs of the National 

Center for Health Statistics and its offices anddivisions, data collection methods used, definitions, 

and other material necessary for understanding the data. 

Sem’es 2. Data evaluation and methods research .-Studies of new statistical methodology including: experimental tests of new survey methods, studies of vital statistics collection methods, new analytkal 

techniques, objective evaluations of reliability of collecteddata, contributions to statistical theory. 

Series 3. Analvtical stz&es.--Reports presenting analytical or interpretive studies basedon vital and health 

statistics, carrying the analysis further than the expositorytypes of reports in the other series. 

Series 4. Documents and committee reports .-Final reports of major committees concerned with vital and 

health statistics, and documents such as recommended model vital registration laws and revised 

birth and death certificates. 

Series 10. Data from the Health Intekview Survev .-Statistics on illness, accidental injuries, disability, use 

of hospital, medical, dental, and other services, and other health-related topics, based on data 

collected in a continuing nationaI household interview survey. 

Series 11. Data from the Health Examination Survey. -Data from direct examination, testing, and measurement of national samples of the civilian, noninstitutionalpopulation provide the basis for two types 

of reports: (1) estimates of the medically defined prevalence of specific diseases in the United 

States and the distributions of the population with respect to physical, physiological, and psychological characteristics; and (2) analysis of relationships among the various measurements without 

reference to an explicit finite universe of persons. 

Series 12. Data from the Institutional Population Surveys. -Statistics relating to the health characteristics of 

persons in institutions, and their medical, nursing, and personal care received, based on national 

samples of establishments providing these services and samples of the residents or patients. 

Series 13. Data from the Hospital Disclfarge Survey.- Statistics relating to discharged patients in short-stay 

hospitals, based on a sample of patient records in a national sample of hospitals. 

Series 14. Data on health resources: manpower and facilities .-Statistics on the numbers, geographic distribution, and characteristics of health resources including physicians, dentists, nurses, other health 

occupations, hospitals, nursing homes, and outpatient facilities. 

&&es 20. Data on mortality .-Various statistics on mortality other than as included in regular annual or 

monthly reports-special analyses by cause of death, age, and other demographic variables, also 

geographic and time series analyses. 

Series 21. Data on natality, maryiage, and divorce .-Various statistics on natality, marriage, and divorce 

other than as included in regular annual or monthly reports-special analyses by demographic 

variables, also geographic and time series analyses, studies of fertility. 

Series 22. Data from the National Natality and Mortality Surveys.- Statistics on characteristics of births 

and deaths not available from the vital records, based on sample surveys stemming from these 

records, including such topics as mortality by socioeconomic class, hospital experience in the 

last year of life, medical care during pregnancy, health insurance coverage, etc. 

For a list of titles of reports published in these series, mite to: Office of Information 

National Center for Health Statistics 

Public Health Service, HSMHA 

Rockville, Md. 20852