Social Determinants of Health Influences in Ophthalmology

The field of ophthalmology is increasingly acknowledging the profound impact of social determinants of health (SDOH) on visual health outcomes. Beyond advances in clinical therapies and diagnostics, research has consistently highlighted enduring inequities in the burden, detection, and management of vision-threatening conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration. These disparities are closely tied to SDOH, encompassing factors like economic stability, geographic location, and health literacy, which shape individuals’ ability to access care and manage chronic eye conditions. Recent studies underscore how these systemic barriers disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, exacerbating the cycle of preventable visual impairment and blindness. Despite emerging evidence and growing awareness, substantial gaps remain in translating this knowledge into targeted interventions and scalable policies that address the root causes of disparity.This Research Topic aims to advance understanding of how specific domains of SDOH influence ophthalmic care and visual outcomes. It seeks to present rigorous evidence on the mechanisms driving inequities in eye health and examine the direct and indirect pathways through which social and economic factors shape access to vision care. Emphasis will also be placed on intervention studies and policy analyses that propose actionable strategies for reducing disparities and achieving equity in ophthalmic health. Key objectives include identifying high-impact SDOH domains, evaluating the effectiveness of interventions, and fostering innovation toward sustainable improvements in vision health equity.This Research Topic covers both empirical and theoretical investigations focused on SDOH and vision health, while limiting the scope to ophthalmology-specific outcomes and intervention strategies. We welcome manuscripts addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:- Barriers to care: Quantitative and qualitative analyses of access obstacles linked to social determinants of health- Development and evaluation of interventions targeting ophthalmic health disparities- Policy and economic analyses, including cost-effectiveness and impact of policy changes on vision outcomes- Studies on health literacy, geographic location, and economic stability as mediators of visual health- Mechanistic research exploring pathways from SDOH to vision and care outcomes Topic editors: Timothy Janetos, Dustin French, Angelica C Scanzera Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/77771/social-determinants-of-health-influences-in-ophthalmology