Operating Room Access: Survey of the American Society of Retina Specialists

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate vitreoretinal surgeons’ access to operating rooms and potential barriers to care. Methods: An electronic survey of the American Society of Retina Specialists was performed in 2025. Results: Of the 276 respondents, most (90% [248]) were concerned about obtaining sufficient operating room time, with more than half (54% [150]) reporting increased difficulty accessing hospital operating rooms even during the weekdays and 45% (124) reporting increased difficulty accessing hospital operating rooms at nights and weekends. The most common reasons for limited access to operating rooms included block time/scheduling conflicts (61% [169]), anesthesia limitations (59% [162]), staffing limitations (51% [142]), and lower relative reimbursements for vitreoretinal surgeries (45% [125]). Most surgeons (94% [259]) believed that restricting operating room access adversely impacted patient care, leading to delays for urgent retinal detachment repairs (77% [212]), increased travel burden for patients (62% [170]), and worse patient outcomes (41% [113]). Patients treated in lower socioeconomic areas had to travel farther for surgery (median of 19 vs 9 miles for ambulatory surgery centers, P < .001, and 17 vs 9 miles for hospitals, P < .001). Practices have compensated by relying more on in-office procedures (46% [128]) and referrals to academic centers (39% [108]). Conclusions: Vitreoretinal surgeons were concerned about access restrictions to operating rooms and the potential impact on patients. Potential reasons for limited operating room access were likely multifactorial but included limited block time, restrictions in anesthesia and staff availability, and lower relative surgical reimbursements.