This Podcast is in Partnership with Transitions

If you’ve been noticing a big uptick in the discomfort and amount of help your patients need over the past year, you are not alone! The impacts of COVID-19 are continuing to be felt in the exam room for eyecare providers around the country as our patients come in with more concerns and symptoms from prolonged screen use. Our guest on this episode is Jonathan Ormsby, Senior Key Account Manager for Transitions Optical, and he’s breaking down the study data that supports just how much our patients are needing help in relieving their daily eye strain and ocular discomfort!

The Transitions Optical Workplace Wellness Survey conducted in 2021 interviewed 1,300 US adults and the findings show significant increases in digital eye strain and discomfort. This annual survey of employees whose employers offer vision benefits has been conducted for over a decade, and helps identify key trends in eye health and perception of premium eyewear options. This year’s annual Transitions Workplace Wellness Survey was conducted online among U.S. adults, ages 18 and up, employed full-time or part-time, and whose employers offer vision benefits. This year, participants were asked questions to identify the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on employees’ eye health and overall eye care, and to learn how the pandemic may have shaped their perspectives on the importance of annual eye exams, the use of eyewear that helps protect against harmful blue light and enrolling in vision benefits plans.

This year’s survey revealed that, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a rising number of employees report looking toward eyewear as a potential measure to prevent digital eyestrain and harmful blue light filtration. The increased interest in eyewear that helps to protect may be in part because employees also reported spending more time in front of their work computer screens since the pandemic began.  Specifically, the survey found that over half of employees spend more time in front of their work computer screens now than before the COVID-19 pandemic, with one in five employees reporting that they spend at least three more hours in front of their screen. Additionally, among those employees with increased screen time, 85% say they experience digital eyestrain frequently. Other takeaways from the survey include:

* almost six in 10 employees report experiencing more eye fatigue symptoms due to increased screen time since the COVID-19 pandemic began* The top symptoms reported by employees include headaches and dry eye* Light sensitivity complaints have increased with increased screen time* The survey ultimately revealed that in the next 12 months, employees intend to look more towards eyewear to help alleviate their digital eyestrain symptoms.

Specifically, one in three employees says he or she will seek information on blue light eyeglasses, update a prescription or buy new eyeglasses. In comparison, only 24% of employees say they would use a blue light screen filter, and 22% say they would change their computer monitor.

While patients are increasingly seeking the help of eyecare providers, Dr. Lyerly emphasizes that we have a limited opportunity in the exam to explain the important elements of any glasses that were prescribed that would address the patient’s specific complaints. If the patient just takes a copy of their prescription numbers, and gets eyewear filled online, the important protective elements that you had recommended would be totally absent from the eyewear they just purchased outside of your office, and they would not have seen any value or relief from your “prescription.”