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productivity — Health-and-wellness — personal-growth — Workplace-wellness — Science

Connection Between Eye Wellness and Work Efficiency

Over eighty percent of employees admit to experiencing a decline in their eye health and overall well-being due to productivity pressure, resulting in a productivity crisis.

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3 min read
Many individuals are grappling with a productivity quandary, with a substantial 80% of workers...
Many individuals are grappling with a productivity quandary, with a substantial 80% of workers admitting to a decline in their eye health and overall wellness due to anxiety stemming from productivity demands.

Connection Between Eye Wellness and Work Efficiency

Struggling with productivity is a common issue, with 80% of employees reporting feelings of lower eye health and well-being due to productivity anxiety. To make matters worse, over a third of workers feel they should be doing more multiple times a week.

The pile-up of social, political, and economic problems in America has been a significant factor that amplifies this stress. However, it's crucial to shed light on other lesser-discussed factors that contribute to this stress.

One major issue is vision, with 50 million+ Americans aged 18 and above experiencing some degree of vision loss. As a result, eye problems' direct link to productivity is undeniable.

Poor Eye Health and Productivity

From minor discomfort to severe risks, poor eye health takes a toll on productivity. The most common problem faced by workers is digital eye strain, which affects more than half of employees and causes blurry vision, eye discomfort, and even headaches. This level of discomfort can significantly impact focus and the ability to finish tasks effectively.

Beyond the immediate symptoms, chronic eye problems can also lead to increased fatigue and absenteeism. According to the World Economic Forum, the productivity cost of visual impairment amounts to $411 billion annually.

Eye issues can also manifest in mental health problems like stress and depression. When left untreated, they can even lead to severe injury and affect employment.

The Worsening Vision of Workers

The problem of workers struggling with vision is becoming increasingly prevalent. Over the last decade, vision difficulty has risen by 28%, affecting millions of workers even when wearing prescription eyewear.

Despite the assumption that increasing vision problems are mostly related to an aging population, a significant portion of the younger workforce is also dealing with this issue. As 82% of Gen Z employees are working longer hours, 54% report worsening eye health due to extended screen time.

Boosting Productivity through Eye Health

Fortunately, there are practical steps workers can take to maintain productivity and protect their eye health.

Wearing Protective Glasses for Visually Intensive Activities

Advances in eyewear technology have made it possible to create lenses that protect workers from digital eye strain and provide corrective vision. As more visually intensive jobs emerge, investing in solid eyewear is essential.

Oakley's Prizm Gaming 2.0 Lens technology, used in esports, is designed to reduce blue light, optimize clarity and contrast, and enhance vision sharpness, boosting productivity without altering colors significantly.

Applying Lubricating Eye Drops

Dry eye disease is a common issue affecting productivity. However, it can be easily addressed with lubricating eye drops like Alcon Tears. These drops help reduce symptoms of dry eyes, discomfort, and burning.

Ensure you consult the label to get lubricating drops without preservatives, which are generally considered safer. Avoid products meant for red eyes as they may worsen your symptoms.

Following the 20-20-20 Rule

In addition to using the right tools, it's important to give your eyes time to rest. Ophthalmologists recommend following the 20-20-20 rule, which entails taking a 20-second break every 20 minutes to look at something 20 feet away.

Taking these short breaks can improve your eye health, provide time to destress, and make tackling tasks for extended periods more manageable. Practice deep breathing and stretching during these moments to further calm your mind.

  1. The link between eye health and productivity is undeniable, as poor eye health, due to issues like digital eye strain, can cause blurry vision, discomfort, and headaches, negatively impacting focus and task completion.
  2. Chronic eye problems can also lead to increased fatigue and absenteeism, as indicated by a report from the World Economic Forum highlighting a $411 billion annual productivity cost associated with visual impairment.
  3. Addressing eye health can contribute to personal growth, workplace-wellness, health-and-wellness, education-and-self-development, and overall productivity by reducing fatigue, mental health issues, and employability risks, while boosting focus and task completion efficiency.

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