Vision

A Wise Investment in Workplace Productivity
by Jeff Spahr

If you could invest $1 and get $7 in return, would you do it? There aren’t many investments that offer that kind of return. What if that investment promised to improve the productivity of your clients’ employees? It seems like a no-brainer, right?

Would you believe that we’re talking about vision benefits? The 2007 Vision in Business Report reveals that employers gain as much as seven dollars back for every dollar spent on vision coverage.
Untreated vision problems result in lower employee productivity and satisfaction, according to a recent study by the Vision Council of America. In a competitive economy, your clients can’t afford any lapse in productivity, especially when it can be prevented.

Statistics show that more than 120 million Americans suffer from eye health problems, making it the second most prevalent health problem in the country, according to the National Association of Health Underwriters. As the Baby Boomer generation ages, the issue is likely to become more pronounced.
Common vision problems include myopia – also known as nearsightedness – a condition in which patients are unable to focus on far away objects. Its opposite, hyperopia, or farsightedness, allows objects to be seen at a distance, but not up close. Cornell University researchers have found that the main culprit in the office environment is computer eyestrain, a more common complaint than carpal tunnel syndrome.

The eyestrain condition can be traced to the poor images displayed by most computer screens, a problem which results in the eyes being forced to constantly refocus. At least 70% of the nearly 140 million people who use computers would benefit from corrective computer eyewear, according to estimates in the American Optometry Association’s Employee Benefit News.

Clearly, employers have a vested interest in the health of their workforce, and vision problems pose significant challenges to organizational effectiveness.

Your clients would be interested to know that the Vision Council of America estimates that more than $8 billion in productivity is lost each year due to vision-related disorders. For employees whose jobs require them to use a computer, untreated vision problems can lower productivity by approximately 20%. This inefficiency can lead to a drop in productivity among employees that are not well enough to use their full potential at work.

Your clients can measure vision disorder losses with output and financials, but there are other issues to consider. A 2004 edition of Optometry concludes that visual impairments cause dissatisfaction, fatigue, stress and lower morale in the workplace, and absenteeism. Overall, the scientific data suggests that workers with visual impairments are at work too much or too little and are not as content or as functional as they could be.

The Schepens Eye Research Institute reports that blindness is the most feared condition by the general public—second only to cancer. The good news is that most vision ailments are treatable. The keys to addressing vision troubles are prevention and detection, which lead to proper vision wear and care. Having regular checkups and wearing glasses could solve the ailments of 11 million myopic and hyperopic Americans. With today’s technology, glasses can be outfitted with anti-reflective lenses to reduce glare, eyestrain, and fatigue. They can also be equipped with photochromics for indoor/outdoor occupations.

Any investment your client makes in vision coverage may have far-reaching benefits to health, productivity, and satisfaction in the workplace. I offer the following top five tips when counseling businesses on what to look for in a simple and affordable vision plan:
1. Choose a large network of independent providers and marquee retailers that provide service when employees need it including on weekends and other off-work hours.
2. Take advantage of plans that offer flexible product portfolios and discount programs that do the most to meet individual needs.
3. Choose a plan that offers excellent client service and extended customer service hours.
4. Study your options carefully for the plans that offer inexpensive preventive services.
5. Always remember that the right vision carrier makes the difference for the employee’s wellbeing and for the company’s bottom line.
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Jeff Spahr is the director of Vision Services for Anthem Blue Cross, whose Blue View Vision provides coverage for nearly 350,000 members across the state through a network of 4,500 vision care providers. He can be reached at jeff.spahr@wellpoint.com.