Worker Productivity and Computer Vision Syndrome

If you use a computer at work, you probably already know that a long day of staring at your screen can lead to eye strain, tired eyes, headache, muscle aches and other symptoms of computer vision syndrome (CVS). But you may be unaware that CVS can also lead to work mistakes and lost productivity.

If you are an employer, you might be interested in studies that suggest company profits may be increased by providing vision care benefits and computer glasses to help boost worker productivity, decrease the possibility of errors and reduce worker disability claims.

According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), surveys show that the most frequent health complaints among computer workers are vision-related. Studies indicate that 50 percent to 90 percent of computer users suffer from visual symptoms of computer vision syndrome. These symptoms include eye strain, dry eyes or eye irritation, blurred vision and double vision.

With more and more of us using a computer at work, CVS is becoming a major public health issue. The AOA reports that a survey of optometrists found that approximately 10 million eye exams are performed annually in the United States due to vision problems related to computer use.

A study conducted by the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Optometry examined the relationship between the vision of computer workers and their productivity in the workplace.

This study found:

• A direct correlation between proper vision correction and productivity. This relationship particularly is evident with complex and/or repetitive computer tasks such as data entry.
• A direct correlation between proper vision correction and the time required for a computer worker to perform a task. Computer-related tasks took much longer when the subjects wore glasses with less than the optimum correction.
• Reduced productivity even among computer users who were unaware they had vision problems. Computer users with small refractive errors may not notice any vision discomfort. But without proper vision correction, their performance on a specific task can suffer significantly — by as much as 20 percent.

"Our data strongly suggest that improving the visual status of workers using computers results in greater productivity in the workplace, as well as improved visual comfort," said Kent Daum, OD, PhD, the study's chief investigator.

According to the UAB study, the economic benefit to employers of providing computer eyewear to their employees can be determined by measuring the average gain in productivity for computer workers over a one-year period, and dividing this productivity gain by the costs associated with the eyewear.

For example:

• If an employer pays a computer worker $125 per day to process claims, and that employee processes 100 claims daily, the cost to the employer is $1.25 per processed claim.
• If computer glasses could increase the productivity of the computer worker by 5 percent (a conservative estimate in light of the UAB study results), the worker could now process 105 claims per day.
• The additional five claims processed per day by the worker wearing computer glasses results in a cost savings to the employer of $6.25 per day (five additional claims processed per day).

The annual cost savings for the employer over the course of a year (250 work days) in this example would be $1,562.

The UAB study also suggests computer vision benefit programs can add significant economic benefits to companies with large numbers of computer-using employees. Study results show that:

• Providing computer vision care to all employees who use computers, even those who are not experiencing CVS symptoms, results in significant productivity gains and cost savings for employers.
• Musculoskeletal problems, which may be caused by computer-related vision problems, can potentially be minimized or eliminated by including computer vision care in a comprehensive ergonomic program.
• Employees performing tasks with particularly demanding visual requirements, such as accounting, document editing, CAD (computer-assisted design) work, electronic design and engineering, could benefit even more from computer eyewear than the average computer worker.
• A computer vision benefits program likely will also lower incidence of workers' compensation claims among computer workers.

"Our study confirms that investing in optimal computer eyewear for employees results in a significant cost-benefit ratio," Daum said.