Most people are struggling with a crisis of productivity, with 80% of employees reporting feeling lower eye health and well-being as a result of productivity anxiety. Among these, more than a third of workers feel like they should be doing more multiple times a week.
The multitude of issues plaguing America socially, politically, and economically have been the biggest factors exacerbating this stress. However, it’s worth noting other factors that are not addressed enough.
One major issue is vision, with over 50 million Americans aged 18 and above experiencing some degree of vision loss. With such a significant portion of the population struggling with eye problems, its direct link to productivity is quite notable.
How eye health impacts productivity
Poor eye health has many branches of impact on productivity, from minor but chronic issues of discomfort to more severe risks like injury.
The most common issue faced by workers is digital eye strain, which affects more than half of employees. This results in blurry vision, eye strain, and even headaches. That level of discomfort directly impacts one’s ability to focus and effectively finish tasks.
Beyond that, chronic eye problems can also increase fatigue and absenteeism. According to the World Economic Forum, the productivity cost of visual impairment is $411 billion a year. Eye issues manifest in both physical limitations and mental health problems like stress and depression. When untreated, they can also result in grave injury, affecting employment.
The worsening vision of workers
The problem of workers struggling with vision is becoming more pronounced. According to the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, vision difficulty jumped 28% in the last decade. This translates to millions of workers having trouble seeing even while wearing prescription eyewear.
While statistics suggest the increase in vision issues is tied to the aging population, a huge segment of the younger workforce is also facing this problem. Healio reported that 82% of Gen Z employees have started working longer hours.
As a result, 54% have worsening eye health. This is, in large part, due to many jobs requiring extended periods of screen time. Fortunately, there are measures workers can take to remain productive and protect their eye health.
Eye health practices to improve productivity
Wearing protective glasses for visually intensive activities
Eyewear has advanced enough that lenses can protect workers from digital eye strain and assist in most corrective vision needs. With an increasingly digital world, more visually intensive jobs are emerging – streaming, programming, editing, and web writing, to name a few.
Solid eyewear should also minimize glare and help optimize the clarity and contrast of the tasks you are dealing with. This is most apparent in gaming glasses, which are heavily used in the esports world.
Oakley’s Prizm Gaming 2.0 Lens technology is precisely developed for interacting with OLED and LED displays, working with or without prescription to reduce blue light without a major color shift and enhancing the sharpness of vision.
Even beyond the realm of gaming, many people have reported less fatigue when using these lenses to engage in graphic design and other digital screen activities.
Applying lubricating eye drops
Dry eye disease is one of the most common eye issues affecting productivity, but you can easily address it with lubricating eye drops. Alcon Tears is a popular variant that can be easily found, which is meant to address burning, irritation, and discomfort caused by dry eyes. It should be noted that this is not meant for an eye infection.
The American Academy of Opthalmology notes that this particular type of eye drop is meant to function like your natural tears, which is why you don’t need a prescription to get one.
It’s worth checking the label because lubricating drops without preservatives are generally considered safer. Drops meant for red eyes are also easily mistaken for the product but have a separate purpose that may even exacerbate your symptoms. Once you’ve got the right drops, you can take them as needed as long as you follow the indications.
Following the 20-20-20 rule
Aside from equipping yourself with the right tools, you also need to give your eyes time to rest and adjust. Ophthalmologists recommend following the 20-20-20 rule, which entails taking a 20-second break every 20 minutes to blink your eyes and focus on something that is 20 feet away.
This practice is very good for your eye health and gives you time to have short breaks to destress. Take these moments to practice deep breathing and even stretch out to calm your mind and realign yourself. By minimizing visual strain and anxiety, tackling your tasks for extended periods can become more manageable.
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