Socioeconomic status (SES) plays a significant role in racial and ethnic disparities in glaucoma surgical outcomes, according to a study that found that addressing these differences could greatly reduce disparities, especially for Black and Latinx patients.
Researchers examined data from 5,985 patients who underwent incisional glaucoma surgery, to assess how differences in SES impact surgical revision or reoperation rates across racial and ethnic groups.
By standardizing SES to a non-low level, disparities in surgical outcomes for Black patients were nearly eliminated (96% reduction), with Latinx patients also experiencing a decrease (54%). However, SES adjustments had minimal impact on disparities among Asian/Pacific Islander and other racial groups.
These findings highlight the role of economic factors in healthcare inequities and suggest that policies addressing financial barriers could improve surgical outcomes, particularly for Black and Latinx patients.
Reference
Kitayama K, Tsugawa Y, Nishi A, et al. Socioeconomic status mediates and modifies racial and ethnic disparities in incisional glaucoma surgical outcomes. Am J Ophthalmol. 2025;S0002-9394(25)00117-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2025.03.006. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40074165.
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