Objective:

To investigate how socioeconomic status (SES) influences eye care utilization for vision-threatening age-related macular degeneration (VT-AMD) patients, identify barriers to care, and propose strategies for improvement, thereby addressing a significant public health challenge.

Key Findings:

• Participants earning $50,000 to $100,000 had 25% lower rates of eye examinations compared to those earning over $100,000.
• Participants with income below $50,000 showed 38% lower rates of eye examinations and 77% lower rates of fundus photography.
• No differences in intravitreal injection rates were observed across income brackets.

Interpretation:

Significant income-related disparities exist in eye care utilization among VT-AMD patients, with lower-income individuals facing greater barriers to accessing necessary care, which underscores the need for targeted interventions.

Limitations:

• Limited research has explored disparities in eye care utilization specifically among AMD patients.
• The study may not account for all factors influencing healthcare access and utilization, including potential biases in self-reported data.

Conclusion:

Targeted interventions, including financial assistance programs and telemedicine, can improve access to eye care for VT-AMD patients, enhancing their quality of life regardless of socioeconomic status, and should be prioritized to address these disparities urgently.