diff --git a/doc/90_dependencies.qbk b/doc/90_dependencies.qbk
index 0dab296..d033b08 100644
--- a/doc/90_dependencies.qbk
+++ b/doc/90_dependencies.qbk
@@ -18,11 +18,10 @@ The implementation uses the following other Boost modules:
 # config
 # core
 # move
-# mpl
+# predef
 # static_assert
 # throw_exception
 # type_traits
-# utility
 
 [endsect]
 
diff --git a/doc/91_relnotes.qbk b/doc/91_relnotes.qbk
index 781d406..9307a24 100644
--- a/doc/91_relnotes.qbk
+++ b/doc/91_relnotes.qbk
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@
 [heading Boost Release 1.87]
 
 * *Breaking change.* Dropped support for C++03. C++11 is now the required minimum.
+* Dropped dependency on Boost.Utility.
+* A bit faster implementation of some relational operations.
 
 
 [heading Boost Release 1.85]
diff --git a/include/boost/optional/detail/optional_relops.hpp b/include/boost/optional/detail/optional_relops.hpp
index 1c15578..c7766fc 100644
--- a/include/boost/optional/detail/optional_relops.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/optional/detail/optional_relops.hpp
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 // Copyright (C) 2003, 2008 Fernando Luis Cacciola Carballal.
-// Copyright (C) 2015 Andrzej Krzemienski.
+// Copyright (C) 2015, 2024 Andrzej Krzemienski.
 //
 // Use, modification, and distribution is subject to the Boost Software
 // License, Version 1.0. (See accompanying file LICENSE_1_0.txt or copy at
@@ -16,7 +16,8 @@
 namespace boost {
 
 // optional's relational operators ( ==, !=, <, >, <=, >= ) have deep-semantics (compare values).
-// WARNING: This is UNLIKE pointers. Use equal_pointees()/less_pointees() in generic code instead.
+// WARNING: This is UNLIKE pointers. Use equal_pointees()/less_pointees() in generic code instead,
+// to obtain the same semantic for pointers.
 
 
 //
@@ -31,7 +32,7 @@ bool operator == ( optional<T> const& x, optional<T> const& y )
 template<class T>
 inline
 bool operator < ( optional<T> const& x, optional<T> const& y )
-{ return less_pointees(x,y); }
+{ return !y ? false : (!x ? true : (*x) < (*y)); }
 
 template<class T>
 inline
@@ -60,12 +61,12 @@ bool operator >= ( optional<T> const& x, optional<T> const& y )
 template<class T>
 inline
 bool operator == ( optional<T> const& x, T const& y )
-{ return equal_pointees(x, optional<T>(y)); }
+{ return x && (*x == y); }
 
 template<class T>
 inline
 bool operator < ( optional<T> const& x, T const& y )
-{ return less_pointees(x, optional<T>(y)); }
+{ return (!x) || (*x < y); }
 
 template<class T>
 inline
@@ -94,12 +95,12 @@ bool operator >= ( optional<T> const& x, T const& y )
 template<class T>
 inline
 bool operator == ( T const& x, optional<T> const& y )
-{ return equal_pointees( optional<T>(x), y ); }
+{ return y && (x == *y); }
 
 template<class T>
 inline
 bool operator < ( T const& x, optional<T> const& y )
-{ return less_pointees( optional<T>(x), y ); }
+{ return y && (x < *y); }
 
 template<class T>
 inline
@@ -134,7 +135,7 @@ bool operator == ( optional<T> const& x, none_t ) BOOST_NOEXCEPT
 template<class T>
 inline
 bool operator < ( optional<T> const& x, none_t )
-{ return less_pointees(x,optional<T>() ); }
+{ return false; }
 
 template<class T>
 inline
@@ -168,7 +169,7 @@ bool operator == ( none_t , optional<T> const& y ) BOOST_NOEXCEPT
 template<class T>
 inline
 bool operator < ( none_t , optional<T> const& y )
-{ return less_pointees(optional<T>() ,y); }
+{ return bool(y); }
 
 template<class T>
 inline
@@ -193,4 +194,3 @@ bool operator >= ( none_t x, optional<T> const& y )
 } // namespace boost
 
 #endif // header guard
-
diff --git a/include/boost/optional/optional.hpp b/include/boost/optional/optional.hpp
index 22221d2..57ff8ef 100644
--- a/include/boost/optional/optional.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/optional/optional.hpp
@@ -59,7 +59,6 @@
 #include <boost/type_traits/is_scalar.hpp>
 #include <boost/move/utility.hpp>
 #include <boost/none.hpp>
-#include <boost/utility/compare_pointees.hpp>
 
 #include <boost/optional/optional_fwd.hpp>
 #include <boost/optional/detail/optional_config.hpp>