The projected share of corresponding or leading authors in UK optometry publications indicates a gradual decline from 2024 through 2028. The year-on-year percentage change over this period is minor, averaging a consistent decrease as the share drops from 87.46% in 2024 to 86.2% in 2028. In 2023, this value stood at 87.78%, underscoring the downward tendency in these forecasts. The five-year CAGR reflects a slight annual decrease, highlighting persistent, albeit modest, declines in this metric.

Future trends to watch for:

Potential shifts in collaborative research practices that emphasize shared authorship.
Growing interdisciplinarity in scientific research that may influence authorship structures.
Institutional and policy changes that could encourage more diversified authorship in scientific publications.