A survey from the American Academy of Ophthalmology in recent years found that 35% of working ophthalmologists are 65 or older. For many, the challenge is not whether to keep practicing but rather figuring out how to keep practicing without the parts that have become hard to carry.
Locum tenens work offers a genuine middle ground: continued practice, fewer long-term obligations, and the kind of schedule control that full-time practice rarely allows.
Can ophthalmologists practice part time after retirement?
Yes, and a growing number do. Physicians across specialties are working longer and scaling back gradually rather than stopping all at once, and locum tenens is one of the more practical structures for doing that. It requires no practice ownership, staff or long-term contracts.
As a locums clinician, you choose when you work, how many weeks per year and what types of assignments to take. Some physicians use that flexibility to reclaim time for family or travel; others simply want to return to the parts of practice they find most rewarding, without everything that comes with a permanent role.
Is there still demand for ophthalmologists who want to reduce their hours?
Yes. A 2024 study published in Ophthalmology projected that supply will fall 12% by 2035 while demand rises 24%, placing ophthalmology second to last in workforce adequacy among 38 medical and surgical specialties.
The gap is widest in rural areas, where just 29% of workforce needs will be met by 2035. A 2024 AAMC report adds that one in five physicians is already 65 or older, and more ophthalmologists retire each year than enter practice. Practices covering leave, managing surgical backlogs, or serving underserved communities will keep needing experienced locum coverage. Retired and semi-retired ophthalmologists bring exactly what those practices need most: deep clinical judgment and the ability to contribute from day one.
Why do ophthalmologists keep working past traditional retirement age?
According to Medscape's Physicians Eye Retirement 2023 report, 63% of physicians planning to continue practicing into their late 60s cited having more to contribute as their primary reason. The AAO has noted the same pattern in ophthalmology, with many senior ophthalmologists describing their continued practice as a choice, not an obligation.
The physicians who want to keep practicing often want to shed what has worn on them: administrative burden, mandatory on-call, long-term obligations to a group or system. Locum tenens lets them stay in medicine while leaving those pressures behind.
What are the practical benefits of locum tenens for late-career ophthalmologists?
Schedule control is the most significant. You set the terms, work when it fits your life, and step back when you need to. Licensing and credentialing are handled by your staffing partner, removing the biggest friction point for physicians considering locum work. Malpractice coverage is typically included. And without the administrative weight of a practice, many physicians find their clinical focus sharpens.
Compensation is also competitive: locum tenens ophthalmologists are typically paid daily rates that reflect the urgency and specialization of each assignment. Your staffing partner can walk you through what to expect based on location, subspecialty and assignment length.
LocumTenens.com matches ophthalmologists with assignments that fit their schedule, location preferences and clinical focus, and handles licensing, credentialing and logistics so you can stay focused on practicing medicine. For a look at where demand is highest, see our earlier piece: The top five U.S. states for ophthalmologists in 2026.
Is locum tenens only for physicians near the end of their career?
No. Early-career ophthalmologists use locum assignments to build experience across various practice settings. Mid-career physicians take them for flexibility or to explore a geographic move. For physicians approaching retirement, the model shifts toward winding down on their own terms while staying clinically active. The reason locum tenens works at 35 is the same reason it works at 65: you decide when you work and when you don't.
Ready to practice ophthalmology on your own terms?
Talk with a recruiter about your locum tenens options and find assignments that fit your goals for this next stage of your career. Explore ophthalmology locum tenens opportunities at LocumTenens.com.
About the author
Nick Holman
Vice President of Hospital-Based Surgery
Nick started his career at LocumTenens.com in 2010 focusing on clinician recruitment in the surgery division. He has held various titles including Managing Director and Associate Vice President. Currently Nick is the Vice President of the Surgery Hospital team where he is focused on growth of the business as well as growth of other associates. Nick graduated from the University of Georgia with a B.A. in Speech Communication. Away from work Nick enjoys watching his favorite sports teams and traveling with his wife and two children.
