By Joel Kranc
The time we spend on screens is affecting our health and productivity; what can employers do to help?
The late Steve Jobs, founder of Apple Inc. and visionary behind some of the modern workplace’s most prolific devices and technological tools, told the New York Times in 2010 that he limits the amount of screen time his kids use at home. This is perhaps a shocking thought to many to think the children of the man behind Apple get limited time on their screens. As adults, however, we make those choices for ourselves – most of the time. At work, on the other hand, we are generally in a constant screen environment, either at our desks, in meetings or even on our breaks. The physical strain these digital devices are having on our eyesight and productivity is taking its toll on the modern workforce.
In fact, nine of out 10 employees say the quality of their work has been negatively impacted by problems with their vision, according to the 2015 Employee Perceptions of Vision Benefits Survey, conducted by Transitions Optical. Unfortunately, while many of these problems affect most employees, the survey adds, only 13 per cent of employees have addressed them with their employers.
What is digital eyestrain?
The problem itself, according to The Vision Council (a Virginia-based organization representing manufacturers and suppliers in the optical industry), is “the physical discomfort felt after two hours or more in front of a digital screen and is associated with the close to mid-range distance of digital screens, including desktop and laptop computers, tablets, e-readers and cell phones.” Workers are spending more and more time in front of screens, which is causing greater fatigue and dry, itchy or burning eyes, and this is affecting their work and productivity over time.
Jonathan Ormsby is strategic account manager with Transitions Optical. He says extended use of the devices leads to many physical problems.
“Employees who can’t see well can’t work well,” he said. “Vision problems can really affect employees in many other ways depending on the type and severity of the problem. Vision problems resulting from eye disease may have little or no symptoms at first but can lead to gradual vision loss or complete blindness if you are not careful.”
The employer point of view
The effect of digital eyestrain is twofold. The first, and most obvious, problem is the physical issues that can arise from excessive use of digital devices. However, the second problem can be seen from the employer’s point of view. The more people experience these issues, the more it will negatively affect work. As a result, workplace productivity and medical claims become part of the bottom line for that company.
“The workplace has evolved tremendously,” said Yafa Sakkejha, general manager with The Beneplan Co-operative in Toronto. “When we used to price for vision benefits and someone would ask, ‘How much will it cost for me to add vision?’ we would assume that 60 per cent of the population are probably going to be wearing glasses; now, we assume 80 or 90 per cent of the population will be wearing glasses.”
Sakkejha says before employers spend money on changing their benefits plans or adding more vision care to them, it is important to look for root causes and make changes in the office culture, if possible.
“Adding vision benefits can be expensive and that’s why a lot of companies don’t have it, but I think the root cause is people staring at their screens,” she said, and that’s where changes need to take place.
Once the changes have been explored and the employer is still inclined to add benefits to their plans, Sakkejha says that rather than just coverage for glasses being added, eye exams should become part of the benefits package.
“Doctors will not only give you advice on how to ease the eyestrain in your life but they are able to detect diseases earlier because there is a lot the eye can tell you,” she said.
Ormsby agrees and says employers should offer a vision plan that provides comprehensive eye exams and high quality lens options. The next step, he explains, is for employers to educate their employees about proper eyewear options that can help alleviate strain and stress.
“The right options can help alleviate stress at home and at work, but many employees are not often aware of the options available to them through their vision plan at work,” he said. “It’s really important for employers to educate them about the lens options that are available, as well as some recommendations for the type of eyewear employees should be asking about.”
Back to basics
The traps of the modern workplace, including the digital tools we can’t seem to live without, are only increasing in usage and importance. As screen time grows, so does the potential for things like digital eyestrain, and ultimately employees with growing health issues. A change in culture and education can help ease some of the issues but there has to be buy-in at all levels to ensure this occurs and is maintained. It can certainly be part of a benefits package, but a back-to-basics communication approach with more face-to-face time will be the first step in fighting the effects of digital eyestrain.