Author’s Disclosure Block: Fahad Butt, none; Thanansayan Dhivagaran, none; David Plemel, none

Abstract Body
Purpose: There is a heterogeneous distribution of ophthalmology services in Canada. Ophthalmologists are primarily concentrated in urban areas. Rural and remote areas may be disproportionately unable to access ophthalmology services due to geography. This study examined the driving distance from patients to ophthalmology services in each province and territory. Study Design: Population-based geospatial analysis of ophthalmologists across Canada Methods: The Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS) and all Canadian provincial ophthalmology societies were asked for anonymized data containing the postal codes of members. Responses were obtained from the COS, l’Association des médecins ophtalmologistes du Québec (AMOQ) and the British Columbia Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons (BCSEPS). Population center coordinates and population sizes were obtained from Statistics Canada 2021 census data. Google Maps Distance Matrix API was used to calculate road-based travel distance between population centers and the nearest ophthalmologist. Results: Nunavut and Yukon are the only territories or provinces without a resident ophthalmologist. Yukon has regular visiting ophthalmology services. Other than Nunavut, all provinces and territories have greater than 70% of the population within 25km driving distance of the nearest ophthalmology services. There is moderate geographic accessibility in Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island where less than 85% of the population lives within a 25km driving distance of an ophthalmologist. Over 90% of the population is within 100km driving distance of an ophthalmologist in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, and Yukon. Conclusion: Most provinces in Canada have a high proportion of their population living within 25 km of an ophthalmologist. However, there is still a notable variation in access across different regions. Provinces like Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia have excellent coverage, while others such as Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan, and Alberta exhibit lower accessibility, particularly at shorter distances. This trend may be explained by differences in population density and geographic distribution, where more densely populated provinces have better access to healthcare services. Additionally, rural and remote regions may face greater challenges in accessing ophthalmologists due to the distances between population centers and healthcare providers.