Employee digital eye strain impacting productivity

New Research from VSP Vision Care and Workplace Intelligence found nearly three out of four employees struggle with digital eye strain (DES), with 59% saying it is affecting their productivity.

The second annual Workplace Vision Health Report survey, which polled 800 human resource (HR) leaders and 800 full-time employees at US organisations, revealed an increase in screen time compared to 2024, as well as an increase in the prevalence of eye issues including blurred vision, eye strain and dry, itchy eyes.

“With screen time increasing and eye health worsening for much of today’s workforce, employees are looking to their employers to provide vision care as part of their healthcare benefits offerings,” said VSP Vision Care president Usha Patil. “By offering affordable high-quality vision benefits, encouraging regular eye exams and managing factors that are contributing to worsening eye health, employers can help support overall employee health, while also fostering loyalty and boost productivity.”

Key findings from the 2025 Workplace Vision Health Report include: on average, employees were reporting 97 hours of screen time per week, which is nearly one hour more per week compared to last year (more than a third of that time coming from work); 63% of workers reported at least one eye issue (up from 50% last year), including blurred vision, dry or itchy eyes and eye fatigue; 51% of employees said DES also diminished their wellbeing and overall quality of life; and more than 27% had taken time off work due to DES.

HR leaders reported that they could be doing more to address DES for their employees, with fewer than six out of 10 saying they had taken steps such as encouraging them to take eye breaks, providing anti-glare screen protectors, or offering flexible hours to break up screen time.