Why isn't Glaucoma more popular?
Glaucoma is routinely a less competitive fellowship in ophthalmology and not as popular it seems and I'm curious as to why.
Is it mainly because of money?
Retina is similar to glaucoma in that patients often have very severe eye disease, chronic disease, often no cures and is mostly chronic management to prevent worsening, rather than actually curing. However, retina is more popular than glaucoma despite it having a longer fellowship, typically longer hours or a longer patient list, and more emergencies.
Glaucoma is very high in demand and it feels like you're a comprehensive ophtho with the ability to manage complex glaucoma and do complex cataract and glaucoma surgeries making you one of the most well-rounded anterior segment surgeons in ophthalmology.
So what's the reasons why glaucoma isn't as popular?
If it is due to money, is it because cornea/comp get paid highly through refractive and premium lenses and retina makes their high pay through injections and more streamlined patient volume whereas glaucoma doesn't really have those avenues of income (except ofc you also do premiums and LASIK as a glaucoma doc but I assume those cases get referred to your local cataract surgeon rather than you taking them)