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. 2023 Jul-Aug;68(4):567-577.
doi: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2023.03.005. Epub 2023 Apr 1.

A scoping review of patients' barriers to eye care for glaucoma and keratitis

Patrice M Hicks  1 , Linda Kang  1 , Mikhayla L Armstrong  2 , Joseph R Pongrac  1 , Brian C Stagg  3 , Kate M Saylor  4 , Paula Anne Newman-Casey  5 , Maria A Woodward  6
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A scoping review of patients' barriers to eye care for glaucoma and keratitis

Patrice M Hicks et al. Surv Ophthalmol. 2023 Jul-Aug.

Abstract

In this scoping review, we examine underlying causes of loss to follow-up for chronic (glaucoma) and acute (corneal ulcers) eye conditions using the Penchansky and Thomas access to care framework. We explore barriers by World Health Organization income levels and by studying geographical location. We identified 6,363 abstracts, with 75 articles retrieved and 16 meeting inclusion criteria. One article discussed barriers to follow-up care for people with corneal ulcers, and the other 15 were for people with glaucoma. The most frequent barriers to care were affordability, awareness, and accessibility. The international studies had a greater percentage of studies report acceptability as a barrier to loss to follow-up. Countries with universal healthcare included affordability as a loss to follow-up barrier, emphasizing that cost goes beyond the ability to pay for direct treatment costs. Understanding and addressing barriers to follow-up care can aid the goal of continued care and decrease the risk of poor outcomes and vision loss.

Keywords: Barriers to care; Corneal ulcers; Glaucoma; Loss to follow-up; Scoping review.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
PRISMA flowchart for the scoping review process.
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