LAUSR

Abstract Background Social deprivation impacts on health outcomes but limited data on the impact on ophthalmic outcomes are available. We aimed to assess the impact of social deprivation on cataract presentation and surgical outcome. Methods In a retrospective, cohort study of patients undergoing cataract surgery in the North of England, we analysed the electronic patient records (Medisoft, Leeds, UK) for 24 378 patients who underwent cataract surgery at a group of ophthalmic units in the north of England between Feb 1, 2012, and Oct 31, 2017. Level of deprivation was determined by English Indices of Deprivation 2015, and outcome measures included severity of cataract (Lens Opacities Classification System), uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at presentation, and BCVA and subjective refractive outcome after cataract surgery. Spearman's rank correlations between social deprivation deciles and outcomes were calculated. Findings Patients from the lowest deprivation decile presented with more severe cataracts (odds ratio 1·69 [95% CI 1·54–1·85], p Interpretation Patients from areas of social deprivation present with poorer vision and severe cataract, so their visual outcomes are worse than those of patients from less deprived areas. Co-morbidities and education might play a role in this difference. Funding None.