Eye cancer is a rare malignancy with unclear underlying causes. Long-term survival after diagnosis is disproportionately affected by social determinants of health, particularly in medically underserved regions. West Texas, covering nearly half the state's land area, faces significant healthcare access challenges due to provider shortages, geographic isolation, and socioeconomic disparities. Despite these challenges, no prior studies have examined the impact of social determinants on eye cancer survival in this region. This study investigated the association between sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors and disparities in survival among individuals with eye cancer in West Texas compared to the rest of Texas using data from the Texas Cancer Registry.

From 1995 to 2019, 3,542 individuals were diagnosed with eye cancer in Texas, with 12.5% residing in West Texas at diagnosis. Individuals in West Texas had a 27.2% higher risk of death compared to those in other regions (HR = 1.272, 95% CI: 1.09-1.48, p = 0.002). However, after adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, health insurance status, and income, the regional disparity was not statistically significant (HR = 1.124, 95% CI: 0.97-1.31, p = 0.1330).

This study, the first population-based analysis of eye cancer survival disparities in West Texas, highlights the critical role of sociodemographic and socioeconomic inequalities in cancer outcomes. Findings suggest that social determinants of health are key drivers of survival disparities in eye cancer. Targeted interventions, such as expanded telemedicine, improved rural healthcare infrastructure, and increased early detection funding, may help bridge the survival gap in underserved regions.