Retina Consultants of America Releases State of Retina Care Report

Report examines the growing demand for specialized care, the pressures facing community-based retina practices, and the impact of the RCA partnership on patient access and innovation

Southlake, Texas (September 16, 2026) – Retina Consultants of America (RCA) today released its first State of Retina Care report, which offers insight into the trends shaping community-based retina care and the role of the RCA partnership in supporting patient access, practice operations, and clinical innovation.

The report is based on an independent, anonymous survey of more than 115 retina specialists at RCA-affiliated practices, along with recent research from across the retina field.

“As demand for highly specialized retinal care continues to grow, community-based practices are essential to preserving access and advancing next-generation therapies,” said Joel A. Pearlman, MD, PhD, a physician at Retinal Consultants Medical Group and co-chair of RCA’s Medical Leadership Board. “However, practices today face increasing operational and financial pressures. The findings underscore the value of physician-led models that help practices manage complexity and expand patient access to high-quality care and innovative treatments closer to home.”

The report focuses on three core themes: patient access, practice sustainability and physician experience, and clinical innovation. Key findings include:

• Strengthening practice operations and physician experience: Nearly 80% of retina specialists said RCA’s support has positively impacted their practice, their work as a physician, and their ability to care for patients, with the greatest impact reported in research infrastructure, data analytics, and purchasing and supply chain support.
• Expanding access to clinical research: More than 80% of retina specialists reported an improved ability to participate in clinical research and offer innovative therapies, while 53% said patient access to clinical trials has improved significantly since affiliating with RCA.
• Improving patient access to retinal care: Nearly half of retina specialists reported that patient access to care has improved since affiliating with RCA — driven, in part, by increased capacity and reach through expanding offices and the opening of new clinics. Since January 2025, RCA has committed nearly $40 million toward the planned opening of 18 de novo clinics across 13 states, helping affiliated practices meet the growing demand for high-quality retinal care in the communities they serve.

The full State of Retina Care report is available here.

About Retina Consultants of America (RCA)

Retina Consultants of America (RCA), a part of Cencora, is a network of leading retina specialists with the mission of saving sight and improving patient lives through innovation and the highest quality care. Through RCA’s practice management model, physicians retain full control over clinical decision-making and practice-specific decisions, while benefiting from the business expertise, resources and shared best practices available through RCA. To learn more, visit: retinaconsultantsofamerica.com.