Workplace Wellness and Vision Health | National Employee Wellness Month

The month of June is designated National Employee Wellness Month. It's an annual observance intended to prioritize the health of employees across all workforces. 

It's an opportunity for both employers and employees to implement various workplace well-being policies and strategies to keep employees healthy and on the job. 
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Vision plays a central role in most occupations. Regardless of the job, clear vision affects how an individual processes information, focuses, and moves safely through their environment. 

Even mild eye and vision problems can increase the risk of workplace mistakes, fatigue, and decreased efficiency and productivity. 

Continue reading for more information on prioritizing eye health in the workplace.
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Understanding the importance of eye health on the job

Corporate wellness programs often focus on stress reduction and fitness. Although those areas are important, another, often overlooked area is vision health.

Vision plays a critical role in various professions for many reasons, such as: 

Safety: Employees in highly physical jobs, such as electricians and construction workers, may need to rely on peripheral vision and depth perception. Vision impairment could compromise safety on the job. 

Reduced productivity: If you are like many people, your workday revolves around screen use. This may include hours spent staring at a computer screen and eye strain. Symptoms of eye strain include blurred vision, tired eyes, and headaches, which can make it more difficult for employees to remain productive. 

Decreased situational awareness. Vision may also impact situational awareness. This is a critical ability for first responders, drivers, and law enforcement officers. Vision problems that reduce night vision or increase glare sensitivity can interfere with reaction time and awareness and affect rapid decision-making in fast-moving work situations. 
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Promoting workplace eye and vision health 

There are several things both employers and employees can do to promote healthy vision in the workplace. 

Employers can:

• Promote ergonomic workstation setups: Employers can design computer workstations to reduce eye strain. This includes reducing glare from overhead lighting, providing adjustable monitor stands, and using screen magnifiers when appropriate. 
• Provide education on using eye protection: Depending on the profession, employers must educate their staff on using appropriate eye protection, such as safety goggles. 
• Share resources on digital eye strain: Employers can provide reminders to take digital breaks. For example, put up a poster about the 20-20-20 rule to reduce eye strain. This rule involves looking 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes. 
• Include vision benefits in workplace wellness programs: If possible, employers should include vision coverage in their comprehensive benefit package. This may not always be an option. However, incorporating vision screenings and eye health education may be a possibility during employee wellness events. 

Employees can: 

• Wear proper eye protection: Follow your company's policies and protocols for protecting your eyes from workplace hazards. Depending on the job, this may include face shields or safety goggles. It is the employee's responsibility to ensure their eyewear fits properly and is worn when needed. 
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle outside of work: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle off the clock is one of the best ways to promote healthy vision. Try to get plenty of sleep, engage in regular exercise, eat a healthy diet, and practice stress management techniques, all of which play a role in long-term eye health. 
• Get regular eye exams: Getting regular comprehensive eye exams is one of the best things you can do for your vision. An eye exam will not only measure your visual clarity. It will also identify eye diseases that can impact vision. 

Eye health is a critical part of overall wellness. Protecting your vision, or your employee's vision, helps improve safety, productivity, and overall health on and off the job.

If you have any questions about eye health, we are happy to help. Also, if you would like to schedule an eye appointment with one of our eye doctors, please call our office at 508-746-8600.