A new survey by Specsavers Corporate Eyecare has revealed a lack of knowledge from employers regarding the eyes, vision and the wider benefits of eyecare.

There are widespread discrepancies among employers’ understanding of eyecare and its wider benefits.  It is good news that employers are aware that eye examinations can detect wider health issues, indeed:

• 84% of employers are aware that an eye test can also detect other health conditions not directly related to eyesight and
• 62% are aware that an eye test checks not just vision but the overall health of the eye.

Some of the details, however, are a quite sketchy.

• Only a third (34%) of respondents knew that an eye test can pick up high cholesterol and
• just a few more (36%) knew that it can detect the risk of a stroke.
• Over half (56%) knew an eye test could detect high blood pressure.
• 64% and 74% respectively, correctly thought an eye test could identify symptoms associated with brain tumours and diabetes.

Despite the huge range of illness and conditions that can actually be detected and monitored through an eye test, the majority of respondents still mostly associate an eye examination with detecting diseases of the eye rather than screening the health of the wider body.

• 95% and 92% respectively selected cataracts and glaucoma as conditions that can be detected through an eye test.

While the employers themselves are beginning to recognise the benefits of eye tests, their employees may be even less aware. Just 39% of employers believe their staff know about all the benefits of eye tests, with 61% either saying they didn’t know or weren’t sure if their employees know about them.

Laura Butler, key accounts manager for Specsavers Corporate Eyecare, says: ‘Preventative healthcare is becoming more important and we’re pleased to see that most employers understand the fuller benefits of eye examinations.  Most know that they can detect and monitor wider health conditions, not just of the eye, even if the extent of their knowledge is a little sketchy.  However, we would like to see eyecare policies more clearly communicated to staff, in our experience, the better employers communicate their eyecare policies, the more the employee also appreciates their full value.’

Specsavers developed a range of posters to help communicate the benefits of eyecare, launched earlier this year. For free copies, please call: 0115 933 0800 or email: uk.corporateeyecare@specsavers.com.