No matter where you look, it seems like there’s always a screen nearby. From televisions to tablets, smartphones to laptops, our eyes are increasingly committed toward digital displays for both work and play.
Just how substantial is our collective screen time?
A recent survey found that the average American spends around 7 hours per day looking at a screen1, and that statistic is trending up as users become enamored with screens at increasingly younger ages (members of Gen Z average about 9 hours of screen time a day, and almost half of those 2 years old or younger are already interacting with smartphones1).
As an employer, it’s important you have a comprehensive understanding of employee screen time. That’s because excessive screen time costs an estimated $151 billion to the U.S. health system, worker productivity and wellbeing costs in 2023.2
Elevated screen time increases the likelihood of device-related conditions such as myopia, and digital eye strain in as little as 2 hours of screen time per day.2
The screens in our offices, homes and pockets aren’t going away anytime soon, and that’s why comprehensive vision benefits are more important than ever.
The optometry angle
According to a recent American Optometric Association (AOA) study, 31.8 million people – or 31% of the population surveyed – exposed to excessive screen time hadn’t visited an optometrist in the last 12 months. Additionally, over half of this group (55%) reported noticing vision-related symptoms that could have been improved or resolved with routine eye exams.2
That same AOA study estimated that, if the average American exposed to excessive screen time were to visit an optometrist just once per year, there could be an annual gain of up to $45.5 billion in collective productivity. It would also result in up to $26.3 billion in estimated improvements to individual wellbeing.2
This is important from an employer’s perspective because (among many other important reasons, such as worker satisfaction) investing in vision awareness and benefits can impact your bottom line. When employees are productive and feeling well, they can reach greater personal and organizational potential.
How Eye3603 can help
Eye360’s $0 copay eye exam at PLUS Providers removes barriers that may prevent your employees from obtaining annual vision exams. Eye360's enhanced benefits also include an additional $50 frame and contact lens allowance to help keep costs low and encourage members to be proactive with their vision health — now even more important with excessive screen time.
To learn more about research, resources and opportunities to help employees reach their fullest potential –speak with your EyeMed representative or visit eyemed.com
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1 Howarth, J.; “Alarming Average Screen Time Statistics”; Exploding Topics; explodingtopics.coms; June 24, 2024.
2 “The impact of unmanaged excessive screen time in the United States”; American Optometric Association; aoa.org; January 30, 2024.
3 Member access to PLUS Providers is only available in conjunction with the Eye360 product and is not available in all states. Eye360 benefits not available in the State of Texas. Additional $50 allowance can be applied once to either frame or contact lens.
Fully insured clients are underwritten by: Fidelity Security Life Insurance Company®, Kansas City, MO 64111 and Fidelity Security Life Insurance Company® of New York.
