Ophthalmic Medicine as a New Specialty

We, the undersigned, believe it is time for a transformation in primary eye care.

Eye care has become fragmented between corporate-driven optometry and surgically focused ophthalmology. This has created a dangerous void in patient care — one where core medical principles and systemic disease relationships are overlooked, continuity of care is broken, and patients are lost in a maze of referrals.

We support the creation of a new physician class: the Doctor of Ophthalmic Medicine (OMD) — the Ophthalmic Physician.

Modeled after integrative pathways of dentistry and oral surgery, the OMD would emerge from a novel 2-Year General Medicine Residency within a School of Medicine, open to Doctors of Optometry who wish to expand their training and assume the role of physicians and integrators of ophthalmic and general medicine.

We believe the OMD will:

• Redefine primary eye care as true ophthalmic medicine.

• Bridge systemic medicine with ocular health, ensuring earlier detection, prevention, and intervention of underlying medical conditions.

• Provide continuity of care by managing patients comprehensively with other medical specialists, reducing unnecessary referrals.

• Create trust and identity by creating a non-fragmented and unified specialty contributing to whole-person medical care.  

This is NOT a call for surgical or incremental "scope creep". It is about establishing an entirely new medical specialty designed to fill this glaring gap in current care within our healthcare system.

By signing this petition, you declare your support for:

The development of the Doctor of Ophthalmic Medicine (OMD) degree pathway.

Recognition of Ophthalmic Medicine as a distinct medical specialty.

Academic institutions, professional organizations, and policymakers to take action in creating this much needed specialty service in eye care.

Add your name below to support a path to the Doctor of Ophthalmic Medicine: