Office productivity suffering due to eye health

The results from a new survey also show millions of people are putting their eyesight at risk, with a quarter (25%) of adults being overdue for an eye exam – with men 5% more likely to skip an exam.

Figures show that almost half (47%) of British office workers regularly suffer from eye strain or tired eyes and almost a third (32%) say issues result in headaches or migraines.

While the average adult looks at digital screens for eight hours each day, almost one in five (18%) adults say that figure is more than 11 hours. Unsurprisingly, just under a quarter (23%) say they have trouble sleeping.

The survey of 2,011 office workers across Britain was carried out by a King’s Award recipient eyecare company, Ocushield – which is calling on employers to invest in their employees’ eye health.

Eye strain is not just an inconvenience. Research shows that up to 80% of employees with eye strain also suffer musculoskeletalpain such as neck, shoulder, and back problems — one of the leading causes of workplace sickness absence in the UK.

Ocushield, led by CEO and qualified optometrist Dhruvin Patel, offers online eye screening services to businesses, allowing workers to test their eyesight in their usual working environment rather than an optician’s testing room that does not mimic real-life scenarios. The innovative solution checks for vision changes, colour vision abnormalities, muscle balance issues, visual field defects and depth perception issues.

The survey also revealed that around a third of British office workers would welcome interventions from their employers, such as anti-glare filters or tactical breaks away from screens, to help them better manage their symptoms.

Dhruvin said: “It’s clear that some Brits are losing sight of just how important eye health is – quite literally. Staring at screens all day without proper protection or regular eye checks is a recipe for disaster. It’s no wonder productivity is taking a hit when nearly half of us are dealing with tired, strained eyes on a regular basis. We need to stop turning a blind eye to the problem and start seeing eye care as essential, not optional.

"Looking after our eyes shouldn’t be a vision quest. Simple steps like regular exams, anti-glare, blue light screen filters and smarter breaks can make a huge difference – and employers are perfectly positioned to lead the charge. After all, clearer vision leads to clearer thinking, better sleep, and sharper performance.”

Ergonomist and Lead Consultant Katharine Metters from Posturite, an Ocushield partner agrees: “We want people to feel comfortable and energised at work; and vision and eye health are a vitally important element of workplace wellbeing. As employers, we can support staff by helping them take care of their eyes. Our team members can’t give their best in their jobs if they’re suffering from poor vision and eye strain – and their posture may be negatively affected by these too. Squinting could lead to increased leaning forwards and consequently reducing your back support.”