Study Reveals Widening Glaucoma Care Gaps in Rural and Low-Income Communities

A new study by Northwestern University has revealed alarming disparities in glaucoma monitoring across the United States, with Black, Hispanic, Asian American, and rural patients significantly less likely to receive essential optic nerve evaluations. Experts warn that these gaps in care put hundreds of thousands at risk of irreversible vision loss.

Glaucoma, according to Accra Street Journal, is a leading cause of blindness worldwide, affects more than 3 million Americans and 76 million people globally. Because the disease progresses silently, regular monitoring is critical to prevent permanent damage. Yet, the study found that only 57 percent of glaucoma patients received an optic nerve exam within three years of diagnosis, far below the recommended standard of two annual follow-ups.

“This is strikingly low,” said Dustin French, senior author and professor of ophthalmology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “If nearly half of glaucoma patients aren’t getting the recommended follow-ups, that’s a serious failure in care. We need targeted solutions to ensure patients don’t slip through the cracks.”

The research examined 13,582 adults treated at 12 major U.S. health systems over nearly four years, incorporating the SOURCE Ophthalmology Big Data Consortium. Using geographic and socioeconomic analyses, including the Distressed Community Index and RUCA codes, the study highlighted how location and income influence access to care.

Key findings include:

• Patients in isolated rural areas were 56% less likely to receive recommended optic nerve follow-ups compared to urban counterparts.

• Black patients had 17% lower odds, while residents in impoverished communities were 9% less likely to receive proper monitoring.

“These disparities underscore the urgent need to address social determinants of health,” said Kunal Kanwar, first author and third-year medical student. “Patients in rural and economically distressed communities face barriers that could lead to higher rates of blindness.”

The study advocates for solutions such as expanding tele-ophthalmology services, improving home monitoring technologies, enhancing transportation and financial support, and incentivizing providers to serve underserved areas. Programs like the Veterans Affairs’ TeleEye Care could serve as models for reaching rural populations.

French emphasized that improving access to remote monitoring and provider incentives could significantly reduce preventable vision loss. “Future research will test these strategies to determine the most effective interventions,” he said.

The study was published in Translational Vision Science & Technology and supported by the National Eye Institute and the nonprofit Research to Prevent Blindness.

Source: The High Street Business