‘Best Hospitals’ ranking for ophthalmology relies on subjective reputational scores

Whether U.S. News & World Report’s annual “Best Hospitals” ranking for ophthalmology as a specialty is a valid barometer or a beauty contest depends on who you ask.Whereas 12 of the 16 medical specialties are evaluated on structure, process and outcomes for treating the most challenging patients, ophthalmology is one of the four specialties judged by reputation-only (the other three being psychiatry, rehabilitation and rheumatology) by a limited number of board-certified ophthalmologists.