# @2020glance on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DBZJfeKv386
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/37443631-2020glance-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/0877a61719.jpg
- **Posted:** 2024-10-21T16:30:05.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Glance (@2020glance) — https://gondola.cc/2020glance

## Caption

New data reported earlier this month found an overwhelming majority of students entering into optometry school this fall are women—and this isn’t the first year.

While the trend of women enrolling in optometry schools has steadily risen in the last few years, their presence in the optometric world is still relatively recent when compared to men.

From incoming optometric classes to current practicing optometrists, we’ll give you the rundown on just how far women have come—and how far there is to go.

First, a broader look at women optometrists.
We’ll take you back to modern optometry in the early 20th century—just when women were beginning to increasingly gain access to higher education in the United States.

A notable pioneer: Gertrude Stanton, OD, credited as the first woman in the U.S. licensed to practice optometry—though, technically, she only received her license “by exemption” in 1901—who later ran an all-female optical business.

And after Dr. Stanton?
By 1912, a reported 500 optometrists (ODs) in the U.S. were female—however, by 1968, there were only 368 female ODs (representing 2.1% of active ODs in the country at that time) and just 2.9% female enrollees at U.S. optometry schools.

Fast forward: Women made up 19% of optometry school enrollees in 1979, which increased to 44% by 1989.

And in the 21st century?
Women accounted for 54% of enrollees in the 1999-2000 academic year—surpassing men—and continued to dominate at 64% by 2009-2010 and 68% in 2017-2018.

Which brings us to this year’s stats?
Indeed. Women in Optometry (WIO) released data earlier this month that, out of over 2,000 students starting their first semester at 26 optometry schools (as the class of 2028) in North America*—71% are women.

Learn more at the link in bio.
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## Tags

optometrist, vision, premed, optometrynews, cornea, nurse, retinopathy, ophthalmology, healthy, contactlenses, medstudent, contacts, womeninmedicine, glaucoma, scrublife, physiciansassistant, optometry, ophthalmologist, residency, dryeyes, surgeon, retina, medicine, keratoconus, eye, glasses, optometrystudent

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