“Eyes on the Workplace”

March 1, 2010

Since waking up this morning, how many important things have you seen? A loved one’s face, jewels of water falling from the shower head, a red light telling you to stop, a smile from a co-worker.

The value of eye sight cannot be overstated. That is why the Pennsylvania Association for the Blind is encouraging eye wellness and vision care benefits in the workplace.

For the Employee

According to the Vision Council of America (VCA,) 62% of the adult population in the United States uses prescriptive eyewear, yet only 48% of adults have a vision exam every year. This may be because almost half of the U.S. employees are not fully taking advantage of their vision benefits.

While many employees report access to vision benefits through their employer, they are less likely to enroll in vision than medical and dental benefits.

Vision programs are a preventative wellness benefit, and let’s face it, most of us don’t seek help or schedule regular eye exams until we realize we are having trouble seeing our computer screens or reading at work.

Unfortunately, cost is a top priority for most organizations and businesses when offering vision plans, so they often look for value-driven plans offered on voluntary bases. By not taking advantage of vision benefits, you are potentially putting yourself at greater risk for even more costly eye problems and systemic disease in the future. Eye diseases and conditions can often be corrected to minimize loss of vision if caught at an early stage.

Talk to your employer today about your vision plan and enroll in your future health. Dedication to proper eye protection in the workforce may save your vision.

For the Employer

When seeking a vision plan provider, consider such factors as:

Customer service hours;
Employer and employee ability to access information on the Internet;
Restrictions on eyeglass frame types:
Geographical locations of plan providers;
Age of employees (the older your employees’ ages, the more coverage you need);
Cost of benefits as they relate to disposable income;
Ability to use independent providers or large optical retail chains;
Provision for a discount on laser vision correction;
The offer of both in-and out-of-network benefit alternatives;
Rate guarantees over a number of years and;
No minimum enrollments.

Wading through the numerous vision programs can be daunting. Talk to other HR professionals whose companies already have a vision plan, take the time to study each plan, and most importantly keep your employees in mind. Ultimately, the time spent researching and choosing a vision plan will be paid back in the long run because your employees will invest in the plan, and have a healthier lifestyle in return.

For more information about Vision Plans in the Workplace contact the PAB at 717-766-2020