Table A: Selected Characteristics of Active Optometrists Enumerated (1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2017)



In the 1992 Health Manpower Survey, statistics on the number of optometrists covered was not available. 674 active optometrists were enumerated. 566 were male and 108 were female.  Their sex ratio was 524 male active optometrists enumerated per 100 female active optometrists enumerated. Their mean age was 33.5. Among the 674 active optometrists enumerated, 7(1.0%) worked in the Hospital Authority, 655(97.2%) worked in the private sector and 12(1.8%) worked in the Government, academic & subvented sectors.  

In the 1996 Health Manpower Survey, 1 257 optometrists covered and 1 054 active optometrists were enumerated. 890 were male and 164 were female. Their sex ratio was 543 male active optometrists enumerated per 100 female active optometrists enumerated. Their mean age was 39.9. Among the 1 054 active optometrists enumerated, 19(1.8%) worked in the Hospital Authority, 1 018(96.6%) worked in the private sector and 17(1.6%) worked in the Government, academic and subvented sectors.  

In the 2000 Health Manpower Survey, 1 864 optometrists covered and 1 359 active optometrists were enumerated. 1 159 were male and 200 were female. Their sex ratio was 580 male active optometrists enumerated per 100 female active optometrists enumerated. Their mean age was 40.0. Their median age was 38.0. Among the 1 359 active optometrists enumerated, 25(1.8%) worked in the Hospital Authority, 1 308(96.2%) worked in the private sector and 26(1.9%) worked in the Government, academic and subvented sectors.  

In the 2004 Health Manpower Survey, 1 893 optometrists covered and 1 084 active optometrists were enumerated. 890 were male and 194 were female. Their sex ratio was 459 male active optometrists enumerated per 100 female active optometrists enumerated. Their mean age was 42.8. Their median age was 42.0. Among the 1 084 active optometrists enumerated, 18(1.7%) worked in the Hospital Authority, 1 005(92.7%) worked in the private sector, 52(4.8%) worked in the Government, academic and subvented sectors, and nine(0.8%) did not reveal their sector of work.  

In the 2005 Health Manpower Survey, 1 898 optometrists covered and 1 294 active optometrists were enumerated. Four optometrists did not indicate the sex. Of the remaining active optometrists enumerated, 1 059 were male and 231 were female. Their sex ratio was 458 male active optometrists enumerated per 100 female active optometrists enumerated. Their mean age was 42.3. Their median age was 41.0. Among the 1 294 active optometrists enumerated, 25(1.9%) worked in the Hospital Authority, 1 209(93.4%) worked in the private sector, 53(4.1%) worked in the Government, academic and subvented sectors, and seven(0.5%) did not reveal their sector of work.  

In the 2006 Health Manpower Survey, 1 887 optometrists covered and 1 321 active optometrists were enumerated. One optometrist did not indicate the sex. Of the remaining active optometrists enumerated, 1 081 were male and 239 were female. Their sex ratio was 452 male active optometrists enumerated per 100 female active optometrists enumerated. Their mean age was 43.7. Their median age was 43.0. Among the 1 321 active optometrists enumerated, 25(1.9%) worked in the Hospital Authority, 1 235(93.5%) worked in the private sector, 55(4.2%) worked in the Government, academic and subvented sectors, and six(0.5%) did not reveal their sector of work.  

In the 2007 Health Manpower Survey, 1 912 optometrists covered and 1 198 active optometrists were enumerated. 967 were male and 231 were female. Their sex ratio was 419 male active optometrists enumerated per 100 female active optometrists enumerated. Their mean age was 44.7. Their median age was 44.0. Among the 1 198 active optometrists enumerated, 18(1.5%) worked in the Hospital Authority, 1 123(93.7%) worked in the private sector, 57(4.8%) worked in the Government, academic and subvented sectors.  

In the 2008 Health Manpower Survey, 1 926 optometrists covered and 1 034 active optometrists were enumerated. 820 were male and 214 were female. Their sex ratio was 383 male active optometrists enumerated per 100 female active optometrists enumerated. Their mean age was 44.4. Their median age was 44.0. Among the 1 034 active optometrists enumerated, 19(1.8%) worked in the Hospital Authority, 963(93.1%) worked in the private sector, 52(5.0%) worked in the Government, academic and subvented sectors.  

In the 2011 Health Manpower Survey, 2 000 optometrists covered and 1 297 active optometrists were enumerated. Four optometrists did not indicate the sex. Of the remaining active optometrists enumerated, 1 018 were male and 275 were female. Their sex ratio was 370 male active optometrists enumerated per 100 female active optometrists enumerated. Their mean age was 46.7. Their median age was 47.0. Among the 1 297 active optometrists enumerated, 34(2.6%) worked in the Hospital Authority, 1 193(92.0%) worked in the private sector, 64(4.9%) worked in the Government, academic and subvented sectors, and six(0.5%) did not reveal their sector of work.   

In the 2014 Health Manpower Survey, 2 097 optometrists covered and 1 144 active optometrists were enumerated. Two optometrists did not indicate the sex. Of the remaining active optometrists enumerated, 890 were male and 252 were female. Their sex ratio was 353 male active optometrists enumerated per 100 female active optometrists enumerated. Their mean age was 48.0. Their median age was 49.0. Among the 1 144 active optometrists enumerated, 37(3.2%) worked in the Hospital Authority, 1 037(90.6%) worked in the private sector, 61(5.3%) worked in the Government, academic and subvented sectors, and nine(0.8%) did not reveal their sector of work.   

In the 2017 Health Manpower Survey, 2 158 optometrists covered and 1 216 active optometrists were enumerated. Four optometrists did not indicate the sex. Of the remaining active optometrists enumerated, 927 were male and 285 were female. Their sex ratio was 325 male active optometrists enumerated per 100 female active optometrists enumerated. Their mean age was 49.6. Their median age was 52.0. Among the 1 216 active optometrists enumerated, 34(2.8%) worked in the Hospital Authority, 1 110(91.3%) worked in the private sector, 72(5.9%) worked in the Government, academic and subvented sectors.  


Notes:

1.  Figures of the year 2000 and before refer to the number of optometrists registered with the Optometrists Board of Hong Kong as at the 1 July of the respective years, whereas the figures of 2004 to 2017 refer to that as at the 31 March of the respective years.

2.  In 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2017, the sector refers to the sector for the main job.

3.  There may be slight discrepancy between the sum of individual items and the total due to rounding.