Sept. 25, 2023 — Transitions Optical has released findings from its 2023 Workplace Wellness Survey, revealing insights into employee sentiments about their overall wellness, specifically eye and vision health, and their health care benefits.
 
Here are some key takeaways from the survey:
 

• Nearly all (96%) of respondents plan to visit a health care provider in the next 12 months, and 89% report participating in holistically healthy activities such as eating healthy foods, exercising, meditating, yoga, or visiting a mental health professional. Transitions points out that this aligns with a CVS Health study that found more than 3 out of 4 people pay more attention to their health after the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Seventy-eight percent of respondents experience a negative impact on their productivity and performance at work due to eye-related issues. Specifically, 49% report experiencing eyestrain or eye fatigue, 45% report digital eyestrain symptoms like headaches, and 38% report blurry vision.
• When it comes to actions employers can take to improve wellness in the workplace, 56% of employees would like to be encouraged to take breaks to benefit their eyes. Further, employees would also like to be offered financial assistance for fitness (39%) and mental health-related activities (34%), catered lunches with healthy options (33%), meditation breaks (32%), and standing desks (23%).
• Regarding eye health, 67% of employees plan to receive an eye exam within the next 12 months. This figure is only 53% for self-employed respondents who are more likely to be uninsured. Upon learning that overall health conditions such as diabetes or heart disease could be detected with an eye exam, most (95%) surveyed employees say they are likely to schedule one within the next year.
• The biggest motivators for visiting an eyecare provider are eye health (60%), early diagnosis of eye disease or other health conditions (51%), prescription updates (58%), lens and frame updates (43%), eyestrain from digital device usage (42%), dry or irritated eyes (42%), and light sensitivity (41%). Additionally, 62% of employees with children are likely to seek an eye exam for their child for early diagnosis of eye disease or other health conditions (63%), dry or irritated eyes (58%), light sensitivity (55%), and eyestrain from digital device usage (54%).
• For eyeglass wearers with vision benefits, 95% are willing to pay above what their insurance covers for premium lens benefits, and 46% are willing to pay above insurance coverage for photochromic lenses.