PINELLAS PARK, Fla.—Transitions has released its latest 2023 Workplace Wellness Survey which examines the influences that play a role in employee eye health and eyecare. The report finds increased attention to holistic health may motivate employees to seek care for eye health concerns, and a willingness to pay out-of-pocket for premium lens options. Early diagnosis of eye disease or health conditions, light sensitivity, eyestrain from digital device usage and dry, irritated eyes, are cited as top reasons that influence workers to seek care from an eyecare provider.

As 78 percent of employees report issues with their eyes negatively impacting their productivity and performance at work, eyestrain and blurry vision, in particular, can lead to many disturbances. Specifically, nearly half of employees cite eyestrain/eye fatigue as negatively impacting their productivity and performance. Meanwhile, 45 percent of employees cite digital eyestrain symptoms like headaches, up six6 percentage points since 2022, while over a third cite blurry vision, up 2 percentage points since 2022, as negative impacts on their productivity and performance.

“The increase in employee likelihood to receive a comprehensive eye exam, and interest in seeking care for light sensitivity, emphasizes the need for employers to offer premium vision benefits,” said Jonathan Ormsby, senior manager, U.S. managed care, Transitions Optical. “Employees continue to be concerned with their health, and this includes their vision. Our research shows that employees are willing to invest in premium lens options, like Transitions lenses, which offer always-on protection, xii and can be key to achieving holistic health and improve productivity.”

 
 
Approximately 95 percent of surveyed employees say they are likely to schedule a comprehensive eye exam in the next year if they knew overall health conditions like diabetes or heart disease could be potentially pre-diagnosed.

When using their vision benefits, 60 percent of employees report concerns about their eye health as a motivator to visit an eyecare provider, while 58 percent report prescription updates as a motivator and more than two in five employees say upgrading their lenses and frames motivates them. Blue-violet light filtration is more motivating for employees to seek care from an eyecare professional for their children at 43 percent, versus for 25 percent for themselves.

An increased focus by employers on holistic health increases the likelihood of an employee attending their annual comprehensive eye exams, among those employees who wear eyeglasses and have vision benefits, nearly all are willing to pay above what their insurance fully covers for premium lens benefits, compared to 96 percent of employees in 2022. Eyeglasses features include scratch-resistant lenses, anti-reflective or no glare coatings, photochromic lenses, UV blocking, indoor and outdoor blue-violet light vii filtration, and premium lens design including a sharper, wider field of view.

Additionally, 73 percent of employees say they are much or somewhat more likely to enroll in a vision plan that offers Transitions lenses when they are armed with the knowledge of their protective benefits.