What one benefit can help you save on your overall employer healthcare costs and help your employees prevent or manage healthcare concerns? Vision care.  

Many people underestimate the impact of vision care and are unaware that, according to the American Optometric Association, eye examinations can detect signs or symptoms of more than 270 systemic and chronic diseases, including early indicators and symptoms.  

Organizations with this knowledge have an opportunity to increase awareness about eye exams' role in preventative healthcare, benefitting workers by supporting their overall health with early detection and benefiting employers by contributing to a healthier bottom line.   

And it’s a significant opportunity, given that nearly half of all workers (45%) don’t go to their annual eye exam, according to research performed by VSP® Vision Care in partnership with Workplace Intelligence in early 2024. Read on to understand the impact of preventative healthcare, vision care’s role, and how to empower employees to take advantage.

Vision care’s impact on preventative healthcare  

An annual eye exam can save more than employers and employees realize.  

One study conducted by HCMS Group, in partnership with VSP, found that for every dollar invested in a comprehensive eye exam, employers saw a $1.45 return on investment through lower healthcare costs, improved employee productivity, and lower turnover rates—experiencing $5.8 billion in cost savings over four years. 

It’s not just employers who save; employees also benefit significantly. The HCMS Group study found that an employee could save a substantial amount over the course of four years due to early identification of health conditions. According to HCMS Group, these include $3,120 for diabetes, $2,233 for high blood pressure, and $1,360 for high cholesterol. 

Conditions eye exams can help detect and prevent 

If you were unaware that eye exams could detect conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, you wouldn’t be alone. According to VSP & Workplace Intelligence’s 2024 report, few people are aware that an eye exam can detect signs of chronic and systemic health conditions like the following:  

 But now that you know, what will you do with that knowledge?  

How many employees make use of eye exams 

Thankfully, 96% of respondents in VSP & Workplace Intelligence’s 2024 report agree that eye exams can play a role in preventive healthcare. And yet, the same report shows that only 55% of employees get an eye exam at least once a year, creating ample room for improvement. 

What keeps employees from their annual eye exam? According to VSP & Workplace Intelligence’s 2024 data, some employees are too busy with their personal lives (29%) or too busy due to work (22%). But nearly three in ten employees (29%) don’t go because they have perfect eyesight and don’t think it’s needed, finds the 2024 report.  

All of these employees would benefit from understanding just how much vision care can help them beyond their vision.  

How to boost vision care utilization in your organization 

Employers play a central role in ensuring employees have access to proper eye care, know how it can impact their overall healthcare, and feel empowered to use it. Consider the following data-driven strategies to increase utilization of your vision care plan:   

• Invest in a vision benefit. Despite its pivotal role in healthcare prevention, only 27% of employees working for private industries in the U.S. had access to eye care benefits through employer-sponsored healthcare plans in 2023, according to Statista.  

• Increase communication about vision care. At companies with vision benefits, 43% of leaders admit they communicate about their plan only once a year (29%), only if there is a significant change (13%), or never (1%), according to VSP & Workplace Intelligence. 

• Use AI to educate about eye health. AI has the potential to revolutionize how we educate about eye health, and at least 2 out of 3 workers in VSP & Workplace Intelligence’s 2024 report say they would welcome the use of AI to better understand their vision care plan or to receive eye health education. 

• Provide PTO for preventative care. Most leaders (70%) surveyed in VSP & Workplace Intelligence’s 2024 report say their company offers paid time off (PTO) for employees to get preventive care, including eye exams. 

• Offer matching contributions. Six in ten leaders (60%) surveyed by VSP & Workplace Intelligence report that their company provides matching contributions to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) or Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), which can be used for eye exams. 

• Consider eye care incentives. Only around half of leaders in the VSP & Workplace Intelligence survey (49%) offer gift cards or coupons for eye exams, glasses, or contact lenses…but at least one out of four plan to begin offering these incentives in 2024.  

• Partner with your vision carrier. The right vision carrier will help you communicate the value of vision care, its role in healthcare prevention, and can encourage higher benefits utilization.  

Prevent high healthcare costs and conditions caught too late by embracing your vision benefits today. Download the full report for more insights on vision care's role in preventative healthcare and how to empower employees to use these benefits.