New report highlights vision health of modern workers
Nearly half of respondents reported declining eye health, with increased screen time citing it as the main problem.
Robert Giannis Jr. May 24, 2024
Recent reports focusing on vision in today's workforce highlight the need for improved eye care and preventative health education. Conducted by VSP in partnership with Workplace Intelligence, the 2024 Workplace Vision Health Report is based on a survey of 1,600 HR leaders and employees and aims to provide clear information on eye health.
According to the report, half of employees surveyed experience at least one eye problem that significantly impacts their focus and quality of work. Yet less than one in five employees know that eye exams can detect serious conditions such as arthritis or cancer, highlighting the need for increased preventive health education.
The report also noted that 52% of workers without vision benefits would seriously consider changing jobs to ones that do.Among Gen Z employees, 82% of respondents work nights and/or weekends, and 54% report poorer eye health, likely due to the negative effects of increased screen time.
Employees spend an average of 96.1 hours per week on screens, with 91 percent of their time spent in front of a screen during the weekdays and 74 percent of their time spent in front of a screen on weekends. Notably, 69 percent report working long hours due to staffing shortages and workload. This extended screen time leads to poor eye health for 43 percent of workers.
To address these issues, the report recommends that employers improve vision benefits and promote eye health. Enhanced vision care can improve employee productivity, focus and overall mental health. In addition, it is important to raise awareness of the wider health benefits of regular eye checkups.
For more information on how to download the full report, please visit the VSP website.
About the Author
Robert Yaniz Jr. is the content editor for Occupational Health & Safety.
