Keeping an eye on employee healthcare

Photo of Paul Gibbons
Submitted on Thu, 29/03/2012 - 4:25pm
Paul Gibbons from Westfield Health
Company Website

According to the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), everyone should have a sight test at least once every two years.

But a recent survey by YouGov showed that nearly a third of UK adults have failed to have their eyes tested in the last 24 months, putting themselves at risk of developing a range of potentially serious eye conditions, such as glaucoma.

Dr Joseph Feder, a board-certified ophthalmologist at the Aurora Health Center, said: “Not all age-related eye conditions are routine. At every eye exam, we are on the look-out for potentially devastating eye diseases such as glaucoma and macular degeneration (AMD). These diseases often begin 'silently' and, if left untreated, can cause blindness.”

And Clara Eaglen, Policy and Campaigns Manager at the RNIB, said: “Our eye sight can deteriorate as we get older, but sight loss isn't an inevitable consequence of ageing. There are things people can do to protect their vision.

"Wearing the right prescription glasses or contact lenses is essential and regular eye tests, at least every two years, can pick up conditions such as AMD or glaucoma.”

So why are people avoiding regular sight tests? YouGov’s research claims that it’s down to a number of factors, including the cost. Fourteen per cent of the 2,102 British adults questioned admitted they delay getting their eyes tested because they cannot afford the perceived cost.

Under the Health and Safety Executive Display Screen Equipment Regulations 1992, in a workplace where staff habitually use display screen equipment such as computers, employers must provide eye tests on request and, in some cases, provide special glasses, too.

Westfield Health’s Chamber Primary Health Plan, which is available to all members of Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, includes an optical benefit, which can help employers to meet their requirements. Employees can manage their eye care, booking sight tests at their own convenience and claiming back the cost of their tests and prescription eyewear up to the limit provided.

For more information about the Chamber Plan, visit www.westfieldhealth.com/chamber or call 0845 602 1629, available 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.

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Paul Robinson Partnership uk LLP's picture

Paul Robinson P...

Tue, 03/04/2012 - 2:40pm

We hold this policy for all of our staff. The majority are working with display screens for a vast part of their day. I agree, people prioritise eye checks low on their agenda unless they notice a change which requires a visit to the opticians.

The Westfield Health Scheme has ensured our staff can claim the cost of the eye test and more (up to the limit allowed) which gives them the peace of mind they need to keep up with their regular checks and we have healthy eyes working on our designs!

Ellen Webster

C and L's picture

C and L

Tue, 01/05/2012 - 11:39am

Regular Occupational Health Surveillance of staff can include basic occupational eyesight tests which may indicate a problem arising with an employees eyesight.  This may affect their work - and, in industry theirs and other's safety - or eye strain/headaches when using display screen equipment.

The option to direct them to an optician is one aspect of Occupational Health that demonstrates the support it gives to both individuals and companies in their business.  I recently came across an offshore employee whose eyesight was well below that required to drive!  This was a potential source of risk in that industry.  He was a non-driver.

Schemes like Westfield are valuable  and increase the chance of the employee attending the optician as they will get cash assistance towards their eye sight test and spectacles, and the company is getting the best of and for their employees.  We use Westfield ourselves and it has proved advantageous.

John Hayes

C+L Occupational Health