Gender Gap in Ophthalmology Authorship and Peer Review Explored

A recent study presented at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) in Barcelona highlights the persistent gender disparity in authorship and peer review within ophthalmology. Despite a growing number of women entering the field, the rate of female senior authorship and their opportunities to gain surgical skills lag behind their male counterparts, according to Marta Jiménez-García, PhD.

Study Findings on Gender Disparity

The study, which analyzed publications from the top 30 ophthalmology journals over the last five years, revealed significant differences in female authorship across countries. Nations like Belgium, Sweden, and Norway demonstrated more gender parity in authorship, while Italy, Japan, and Iran had the lowest representation of female authors. Remarkably, Thailand was the only country where women published more articles than men.

Topics with the highest number of female authors included amblyopia, retinopathy of prematurity, low vision, and cell studies, whereas fields such as cataract, refractive surgery, and retina had the lowest rates of female authorship. In particular, journals such as Retina, the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, and the Journal of Refractive Surgery were noted for their low female representation.

Gender Impact on Review and Publication Times

Gender was also found to affect the peer review timeline. Articles with female first authors experienced an average of four additional days in the review process, and if the last author was also female, the timeline increased by an extra six days. Similarly, papers led by female first authors required five additional days to receive acceptance. However, there was no significant difference in overall publication time, and these delays were less evident when gender was not easily identifiable, particularly with Asian names.

Analysis and Recommendations

Jiménez-García attributed these findings to complex and multifactorial causes. She emphasized the need for heightened awareness within the ophthalmology community to minimize these disparities. Highlighting the many female role models already in vision science, she encouraged women to continue pursuing careers in the field without being discouraged by these results.

"Our results should not discourage women from continuing or starting a career in vision research," said Jiménez-García. The study aims to inspire greater inclusivity and equality within the ophthalmology community by showcasing these findings.