Why Vision
A growing need
The need for vision correction is so prevalent it can actually be easy to overlook. More than 3/4 of U.S. adults aged 18 or older use some form of vision correction.1 And with the effects of aging and increased screen usage, vision benefits will only become more important to employees and their families in the years to come.
Vision disorders are the 2nd most prevalent health condition in the United States2
of Millennials report symptoms of digital eye strain3
of employees say they deal with a visual disturbance that bothers their eyes every day at work4
And as with most medical conditions, vision issues become more severe and costly the later they’re detected and treated:
Staggering cost of lost productivity per year5
Price tag of eye disorders and vision loss – among the most expensive health concerns in the U.S.5
Anticipated costs for year 2050 associated with cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and advanced age-related macular degeneration – up from $145 billion in 20146
The broader benefits of vision care
Our eyes offer a unique view into the human body. Comprehensive eye exams can uncover not only vision issues, but also serious health problems, such as:7
This, along with the fact that the average person is 4x more likely to receive an annual eye exam than a physical, shows just how important vision care can be.8
When you offer vision benefits, you encourage employees to take charge of both their eye health and overall wellness. This allows diagnosed conditions to be treated more quickly – and more cost-effectively – leading to a healthier team with potentially lower healthcare expenses.
When employees benefit, so do employers
Providing vision care for employees shouldn’t be thought of as an expense – but as an investment in the wellness, happiness and productivity of your workforce.
With only 35% of employers offering vision insurance,9 a competitive vision benefit can be a valuable tool to recruit and retain top talent. In fact, nearly 1/3 of people say they have or know someone who accepted a job in the last year due to an attractive benefits package.10 Plus in addition to being an increasingly desired benefit by staff, employers can gain $7 for every $1 invested in vision coverage.11
1 VisionExpoEast.com, 2014
2 Prevent Blindness America. www.preventblindnessamerica.us/sightsaved/about.html
3 The Vision Council, Digital Eye Strain Report, 2015
4 HR.BLR.com, 2015
5 Prevent Blindness America, “The Cost of Vision Problems”
6 Prevent Blindness America, “The Future of Vision,” 2015
7 “Health Problems Eye Exams Can Detect,” YourSightMatters.com, March 2016
8 U.S. Department of Health – National Health Statistics Reports #8, August 6, 2008
9 Kaiser Family Foundation, Employer Health Benefits Survey, 2014
10 Employee Perceptions of Vision Benefits Survey. Wakefield Research or Transitions Optical, Inc., 2015
11 Workforce.com, “Special Report: Vision and Dental Benefits — More to See, More to Chew On,” 2015
