Disparities in Eye Care Access and Utilization: A Narrative Review.
Joana E Andoh1, Agnes C Ezekwesili2, Kristen Nwanyanwu3
1Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Annual Review of Vision Science
|May 30, 2023
Summary
This review examines factors affecting eye care access and utilization in the US, highlighting disparities and offering recommendations for improvement. It uses the Healthy People 2030 framework to explore social determinants of health impacting eye health services.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Ophthalmology
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Access to and utilization of eye care services in the United States are suboptimal for many populations.
- Disparities in eye care exist across various demographic and socioeconomic groups.
- Understanding the social determinants of health is crucial for addressing these disparities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the literature on factors influencing eye care access and utilization in the US.
- To investigate social determinants of health impacting engagement with eye care services, including screenings, diagnostics, and treatment.
- To propose recommendations for eliminating disparities and reimagining eye care delivery.
Main Methods:
- A narrative review of existing literature was conducted.
- The Healthy People 2030 framework was utilized to guide the investigation.
- Qualitative, patient-centered research was incorporated to understand disparities.
Main Results:
- Social determinants of health significantly impact various aspects of eye care engagement, from general access to follow-up visits.
- Documented disparities exist in screenings, diagnostic visits, treatment adherence, and the adoption of new technologies like teleophthalmology.
- Patient-centered research reveals key barriers and facilitators to eye care utilization.
Conclusions:
- Significant disparities in eye care access and utilization persist in the US, driven by social determinants of health.
- Recommendations are provided to address these disparities and promote equitable eye care.
- Reimagining eye care delivery models is essential for achieving health equity.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways
6.1K
At the molecular level, visual signals trigger transformations in photopigment molecules, resulting in changes in the photoreceptor cell's membrane potential. The photon's energy level is denoted by its wavelength, with each specific wavelength of visible light associated with a distinct color. The spectral range of visible light, classified as electromagnetic radiation, spans from 380 to 720 nm. Electromagnetic radiation wavelengths exceeding 720 nm fall under the infrared category,...
6.1K
01:21Barriers to Effective Communication II
3.7K
The barriers to effective communication also include cultural barriers, semantic barriers, gender barriers, and time constraints.
Cultural barriers:
Differences in values, beliefs, religion, knowledge, and tradition can significantly impact communication. Awareness of nonverbal cues is critical, especially when conversing with a patient from a different culture. What appears appropriate in one culture may be inappropriate in another.
Semantic barriers:
As a result of their tendency to use...
Cultural barriers:
Differences in values, beliefs, religion, knowledge, and tradition can significantly impact communication. Awareness of nonverbal cues is critical, especially when conversing with a patient from a different culture. What appears appropriate in one culture may be inappropriate in another.
Semantic barriers:
As a result of their tendency to use...
3.7K
01:16Focusing of Light in the Eye
3.0K
Light rays enter the eye through the cornea, a transparent dome-shaped tissue that is the eye's outermost layer. The cornea bends or refracts, light rays traveling to the pupil. The shape of the cornea determines how much of the light is bent and whether the image will be focused correctly on the retina at the back of the eye. Once the light has passed through both refraction layers, it converges into a single focal point onto a small area. This is where photoreceptors start transforming...
3.0K
01:29Issues And Trends In Healthcare Delivery System
5.7K
The issues and trends in healthcare delivery are constantly changing. The COVID-19 pandemic is one recent issue that wreaked havoc on healthcare systems, causing a shortage of healthcare workers, high demand for medicines and supplies, and increased medical expenditure due to a lack of insurance. Other issues include rising healthcare costs and care fragmentation.
Cost Containment
Payment for healthcare services has historically promoted adoption of costly and often unnecessary or inefficient...
Cost Containment
Payment for healthcare services has historically promoted adoption of costly and often unnecessary or inefficient...
5.7K
01:17Accessory Structures of the Eye
1.7K
Optical perception, or vision, is an extraordinary sense dependent on converting light signals received via the ocular organs. These organs, known as eyes, are securely positioned within the bony cavities of the skull, called orbits. The orbits serve a dual purpose: a protective shield for the ocular globes and a stable attachment point for the soft ocular tissues. The eye's external protective mechanisms include the eyelids, which are edged with lashes that act as a barrier against foreign...
1.7K
01:25Glaucoma: Overview
636
Glaucoma is an eye condition characterized by increased intraocular pressure that damages the retina and optic nerve, leading to irreversible blindness if left untreated. The human eye has various components, including the cornea, iris, pupil, lens, and optic nerve. Aqueous humor is secreted by the epithelium of the ciliary body in the posterior chamber and flows through the trabecular meshwork and canal of Schlemm, maintaining normal intraocular pressure. The trabecular meshwork and the canal...
636