The Expansion of Private Equity into Ophthalmology

Abstract

Throughout the last few decades, private equity (PE) has expanded into the field of ophthalmology at an incredible rate. Acquisitions of private practices by firms have increased with the intention of maximizing profits and patient volume to target the growing demand for medical services and address a fragmented healthcare system. PE investment has proven to greatly benefit PE firms and senior ophthalmologists of well-established practices. However, this trend of PE acquisition has received much criticism despite its seemingly positive short-term outlook. In this commentary, we discuss the potential setbacks of PE advancement in ophthalmology, including the loss of physician autonomy, reduced income for junior ophthalmologists, and decline in quality of patient care – all resulting from the increased focus on maximizing profitability. Furthermore, we consider the ramifications of PE investment on incoming ophthalmologists who are entering an uncertain job marketplace and may struggle to locate stable practice opportunities. This commentary concludes with the evaluation of private equity advancement through the lens of a medical student and an ophthalmologist, as well as a call for medical students and trainees to educate themselves on the matter and promote further research on the long-term consequences of this trend of PE investment.