Skip to Content

The Connection Between Eye Health and Workplace Productivity

Employee health and well-being are instrumental to productivity and performance, as a healthier state translates to improved concentration on assigned tasks and fewer sick days. Moreover, recent years have seen an increased focus on employee mental health as equally important as physical health — leading to the promotion of workplace activities that relieve stress and reduce the risk of burnout. Such activities can range from mindfulness habits like yoga and meditation to management strategies like brainstorming sessions and flexible work arrangements.

However, another aspect that can significantly influence productivity is eye health. Since eyesight is essential for performing tasks safely, effectively, and accurately, employees must prioritize it to improve their performance and overall health and wellness. Below, we look closer at the connection between eye health and workplace productivity and eye care tips that help promote a safe and efficient work environment.

The Connection Between Eye Health and Workplace Productivity

How eye health contributes to productivity

As previously mentioned, employees rely on their vision to efficiently accomplish work-related tasks, such as operating machinery, reading documents, and using electronic devices like computers. The ability to see objects and details clearly is also an important factor in occupational health and safety, as it can help employees navigate hazards and prevent workplace injuries and accidents.

Moreover, a study published in the journal EClinicalMedicine reports that vision loss and impairment can contribute to an estimated annual cost of $410.7 billion in global productivity losses. Such losses can be caused by increased absence from work, reduction in production while at work, and compensation claims from workplace injuries, necessitating the eye care tips in the next section to minimize health costs and boost workplace productivity.

How to protect the eyes and stay productive

Wear blue light glasses

While digital transformation can help employees save time and energy on repetitive tasks, it can also hinder productivity through excessive screen time, which then contributes to vision degradation and digital eye strain. Fortunately, employees can wear blue light glasses to shield their eyes from blue-violet light, which is emitted by digital devices and is known to strain the eyes through prolonged exposure. Optical retailer Clearly explains that blue-violet light glasses are ideal for dedicated periods of work, and are available for both prescription and non-prescription frames from both the retailer’s in-house collections and luxury brands like Coach and Ralph Lauren.

Schedule routine eye tests

Aside from wearing blue light glasses for digital protection, a preventive eye care tip is to schedule a comprehensive eye examination from a qualified optometrist. These exams can test employees’ visual acuity and determine their prescription, while also detecting signs and symptoms of eye conditions that can otherwise impair health and productivity, such as eye strain and dry eye disease. With the rise of telehealth, employees can even book appointments for remote eye testing from opticians like New York-based Warby Parker. Through these virtual vision tests, they don’t have to miss out on the routine checkup and monitoring of their eye health despite busy work schedules.

Take regular breaks

Lastly, the importance of taking breaks throughout the day cannot be overstated. In the same way regular breaks allow the mind and body to rest and prevent fatigue and burnout, giving the eyes a break can help relieve stress and tension in the ocular muscles, ultimately minimizing the risk of eye problems like dry eyes, soreness, and irritation. Regardless of how long each break takes, they can be spent doing eye exercises like blinking and staying hydrated to keep the eyes healthy and nourished.

By adopting the tips mentioned above, employees can preserve their eyesight and continue to perform well at work and in daily life.

About the Author

Nicole Booz

Nicole Booz is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of GenTwenty, GenThirty, and The Capsule Collab. She has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and is the author of The Kidult Handbook (Simon & Schuster May 2018). She currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and three sons. When she’s not reading or writing, she’s probably hiking, eating brunch, or planning her next great adventure.

Website: genthirty.com