2018 was a big year in ophthalmology. It was the year of ultra-widefield imaging and the rise of clinical specialists. So, what does 2019 have in store?

We’ve mapped the market and looked at all of the anticipated market and recruitment trends from across the ophthalmology space.

Market trends

Artificial intelligence  

AI is everywhere in medical technology, and it’s certainly found its uses in eye care. Google’s DeepMind AI system is set to help in the diagnosis of eye diseases and can even recommend treatment.

Imaging

The race to be market leader in the ultra-widefield imaging world shows no sign of slowing down. Optos’ Monaco and Zeiss’ Clarus systems have both been incredibly well received by the market and are solidly in place as market-leading pieces of technology.

Dry eye

The dry eye market is certainly a competitive one. Whether it’s pulsed light technologies or eye drops, companies in the space are all wanting their slice of the pie in what is one of the most talked about areas of eye care.

Recruitment trends

Clinical functions

Last year we saw a huge rise in the number of clinical specialists being recruited into eye care companies the market. The same can be expected from 2019, with a rise in the number of ophthalmic photographers and other clinical professionals progressing into more commercial careers. There’s an intrinsic link between the two, and companies are increasingly recognizing the importance and the potential applications of this.

Optometrists

The drive will continue in 2019 to provide optometrists with the tools to enable patient consultations and to improve the sharing of data with ophthalmologists. With increasing pressure on outpatient departments, this move is critical.

Regulation of medical devices

The new EU Medical Device Regulations are currently in the implementation period. That, coupled with the uncertainty around the UK leaving the EU, means that medical device companies are looking for additional talent to help navigate this period.

You can find out more about this here.

What does this all mean for recruitment?

The innovation occurring in the market means that the eye care companies who are vying to be market leader, whatever their product, need appropriate talent in place. We’re seeing a lot of recruitment of:

• Sales talent – sales people are always in demand, and this is no exception in 2019
• Clinical specialists – as the importance of having strong clinical knowledge within a team becomes more widely recognised, more and more companies are expanding their clinical teams
• Regulatory affairs specialists – the recruitment drive for regulatory talent is exceptionally high in the current landscape

Want to know more about the eye care space?

Download our Eye Care UK Talent Report 2019 here!