Influence of Social Determinants of Health on Presenting Visual Acuity in Retinal Vein Occlusions.
Publication/Presentation Date
4-1-2026
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe the impact of social determinants of health (SDOH) on visual acuity (VA) at presentation among patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO).
DESIGN: A retrospective single-center cohort study.
SUBJECTS: All patients with RVO (central and branch retinal vein occlusion [CRVO and BRVO]) who received their first intravitreal anti-VEGF injection between January 2015 and March 2025 at a single center.
METHODS: Sociodemographic factors including age, gender, race, and ethnicity were recorded. Social deprivation index (SDI) scores, a proxy for SDOH were determined using zip codes. An aggregate SDOH score was calculated and divided into quintiles, with quintile 5 (Q5) representing the highest SDOH burden. Information on hypertension and smoking status were also collected. Data on best available VA at presentation measurements were collected and were categorized as mild (20/40 or better), moderate (20/50 to 20/100), and severe vision loss (20/200 or worse).
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Factors affecting degree of vision loss at presentation.
RESULTS: A total of 9698 patients with RVO were included. Of these, 57% (n = 5490/9698) had a BRVO, and 43% (n = 4208/9698) had a CRVO. The proportion of patients with mild, moderate, and severe vision loss was 25% (n = 2425/9698), 41.8% (n = 4049/9698), and 33.1% (n = 3206/9698), respectively. On multivariable analysis, increasing SDI quintiles (higher SDOH burden) were associated with worse presenting baseline VA in patients with RVO (odds ratio [OR] 1.32, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13-1.54;
CONCLUSIONS: Our study reveals associations between adverse SDOH and presenting VA among patients with RVO. Evaluating and intervening on effects of adverse SDOH may be a means to improve outcomes of patients with RVO.
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES: Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.
Volume
6
Issue
4
First Page
101089
Last Page
101089
ISSN
2666-9145
Published In/Presented At
Zafar, S., Momenaei, B., Ni, R., Wibbelsman, T., Calotti, M., Bowe, T., Acaba-Berrocal, L., Cheng, B., Kim, E., Hanif, N., Iqbal, Z., Deaner, J. D., Xu, D., Kuriyan, A. E., Yonekawa, Y., Hsu, J., Garg, S. J., Haller, J. A., Ho, A. C., & Patel, S. N. (2026). Influence of Social Determinants of Health on Presenting Visual Acuity in Retinal Vein Occlusions. Ophthalmology science, 6(4), 101089. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xops.2026.101089
Disciplines
Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
PubMedID
41816095
Department(s)
Administration and Leadership
Document Type
Article