The Rush for a Competitive Specialty and the Tendency to Feel Defeated Before the Battle
Ophthalmology is one of the most competitive specialties out there. It is no wonder that in 2021 there was a study carried out called Predictors of Ophthalmology Career Success (POCS) study. The study was the first quantitative assessment of the factors that determine success in OST (Ophthalmology Specialty Training) recruitment and ophthalmology postgraduate examinations in the UK. This only buttresses the fact that it is a sought out specialty by many. In 2021, there were 89 posts for 605 applicants. This put the competition ratio at 6.80. This ratio only went up in 2022 and it appears it will maintain this trend in the years to come.