Vision Benefits

Preventive Eye Care–Focusing on a Healthy, Productive Workforce
by Douglas Cappiello, MD

Poor vision affects more than 120 million peo-ple, mak-ing it the second most prevalent health condition in the United States after heart disease—and one of the most expensive. The Vision Council of America reports that $16 billion a year is spent on direct medical costs related to eye diseases, more than the costs of breast cancer and lung cancer combined. California bears more financial burden than any other state, spending more than $5.5 billion a year on adult vision problems, which includes $1.1 billion in productivity losses. It’s time for a clear focus on prevention so your clients can maintain a healthy and productive workforce.

A recent survey by Opinion Research Corporation on behalf of the American Optometric Association shows that many consumers don’t understand the value of preventive eye care. But as with most diseases, the keys to staying healthy are early detection and timely treatment. Preventive eye screenings can detect a multitude of serious and potentially blinding eye diseases, and can also help detect other health conditions that aren’t usually associated with eye care, including multiple sclerosis, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and hypertension. Just as most consumers visit their personal physician once a year for a physical or their dentist twice a year for a checkup, employees should get a comprehensive yearly eye exam to protect their health—and your clients’ bottom line.

The strain of Eye Disease

Vision disorders cost em-ployers in a variety of ways. The Vision Council of America found that uncorrected vision can reduce an employee’s productivity by as much as 20%. It’s also associated with increased job dissatisfaction, -high-er error rates, and a greater number of sick days. The Eye Diseases Pre-va-lence Research Group estimated that 11 million Americans have uncorrected vision disorders—ranging from simple nearsightedness to serious diseases like glaucoma or cataracts. And that number doesn’t include the millions of Americans who have been diagnosed with a disease. Take a look at the most common preventable eye disorders that could reduce an employee’s performance.

Diabetic Retinopathy

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 20 million Americans have diabetes, but that nearly one in three hasn’t yet been diagnosed. Careful periodic examinations by an eye care professional are necessary to identify retinopathy before it causes permanent vision loss.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma develops when pressure builds up inside the eye, damaging the optic nerve. It afflicts more than 3 million Americans—most over the age of 40—but half don’t know they have the disease because there are often no warning signs. Without detection and treatment, glaucoma can cause blindness in just a few years.

Cataract

A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s lens and it can occur at any age. More than 22 million Americans age 40 and older have cataracts—the equivalent of one in every six people in this age group. Preventive screenings are important to assess whether or not cataracts are causing vision loss and to provide appropriate treatment in a timely manner.

Healthy Vision, Healthy Workforce

Healthy vision is the foundation of a healthy workforce. But many people overlook the importance of good vision. In the most recent American Eye-Q survey conducted by Opinion Research Corporation, 35% of respondents admitted that they hadn’t visited an eye care professional in at least five years. The good news is that it’s easy to keep your clients’ employees seeing clearly. Annual eye exams can detect most dangerous eye diseases and are covered by nearly all vision care plans.

A comprehensive eye exam is the only sure way to help employees maintain clear vision. The American Optometric Association recommends that healthy adults between 18 and 60 years of age should get a comprehensive eye exam every two years. Adults who are at risk of developing eye disease should get an exam at least once a year. At-risk categories include:

• Diseases—diabetes, hypertension or a family history of eye disease.
• Occupation—visually demanding jobs. (Like editors, accountants, or graphic artists) or ones that are hazardous to the eye (factory or construction workers.)
• Medical risk—prescription drugs and other health conditions.
• Eye correction—contact lenses or previous eye surgery.

Vision Care—An Affordable Investment in a Healthy Workforce

Preventive screenings can detect eye diseases before they lead to dangerous health problems. But despite the high costs of vision disorders, the Kaiser Family Foundation’s 2006 Employer Health Benefits Survey found that only 20% of employers offer a vision plan—less than half the number that provide dental coverage. By recommending vision coverage, California brokers can help their clients reduce their healthcare costs and increase productivity. Studies prove it: The University of Alabama at Birmingham reports that employers can gain $7 for every $1 they spend on vision coverage.

Let’s examine a common workplace complaint and how preventive eye care could protect your clients. The Vision Council of America reports that 90% of employees who use a computer for at least three hours a day report eye strain. Computer-related eye strain is more common than carpal tunnel, which costs employers about $8 billion a year in medical bills and lost workdays. Annual preventive eye exams could help provide relief for employers in two ways:

• With a thorough eye examination, computer users who experience eye strain would be identified early. They could get corrective eyewear to reduce the daily strain on their eyes by up to 75%.
• According to a study done at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, a correction as small as 0.5 diopters (two “clicks” in the refractive exam) could improve a computer user’s productivity by approximately 9% and accuracy by 38%.

Clear benefits for preventive eye care

Good sight is just good business. Preventive eye care keeps your clients’ employees performing at their best. For employers, it’s an affordable investment that pays large dividends in the health and productivity of their workforce. A vision plan completes your clients’ benefits package—and helps you add value in a competitive market.
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Douglas A. Cappiello, MD joined the Permanente Medical Group in 1990. He is the past Chief of the Department of Ophthalmology at Kaiser Permanente’s Hayward Medical Center, and served as a member of the medical group’s Board of Directors for 12 years. Doug currently divides his time between his clinical practice and his role as the Physician Director for Customer Relations. He can be reached at doug.cappiello@kp.org or 510-675-4908.