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All data were analysed descriptively, followed by binary logistic regression analyses. Sociodemographic and health-related factors were assessed. The primary outcome was the utilization of preventive eye examinations within the past 12 months; out-of-pocket payment served as the secondary outcome.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Overall, 35.8% of respondents reported having undergone a preventive ophthalmologic examination within the previous 12 months. In multivariable binary logistic regression models, being in a relationship (OR 1.49,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u20090.036), existing eye disease (OR 3.81,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009&lt;\u20090.001), and recent general practitioner visits (OR 7.27,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009&lt;\u20090.001) or optician visits (OR 4.22,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009&lt;\u20090.001) were significantly associated with higher utilization of preventive services. In univariable binary logistic regression, younger age, employment status, academic degree, higher income, good self-rated health and optician visits were each associated with a higher likelihood of paying out-of-pocket for preventive ophthalmologic examinations, not reaching significance in a multivariable model.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Preventive ophthalmologic examinations in Germany are primarily utilized by individuals who already have established contact with the healthcare system or have diagnosed eye diseases, while sociodemographic differences in out-of-pocket payments for preventive eye examinations were observed mainly in univariable analyses and should be interpreted cautiously. The findings may inform future prevention strategies aimed at improving low-threshold access to preventive eye care, particularly among individuals without regular contact with healthcare providers.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1007\/s00417-026-07450-7","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,12]],"date-time":"2026-08-12T06:51:52Z","timestamp":1786517512000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Equity gaps in screening utilization for chronic eye conditions: Evidence from a population-based survey in Germany"],"prefix":"10.1007","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0004-3387-9565","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Anna Sophia","family":"Jauch","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Thomas","family":"Ach","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Katharina","family":"Wall","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8019-9272","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Frank G.","family":"Holz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Robert P.","family":"Finger","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0174-4066","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jan Henrik","family":"Terheyden","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,12]]},"reference":[{"key":"7450_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e106","DOI":"10.1016\/S2214-109X(13)70145-1","volume":"2","author":"WL Wong","year":"2014","unstructured":"Wong WL, Su X, Li X et al (2014) Global prevalence of age-related macular degeneration and disease burden projection for 2020 and 2040: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 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