Research

Real-World Workplace Return on Investment of a Computer-Specific Vision Intervention Benefit for Presbyopes

KEY POINTS

  • Productivity related  to  health  issues  can  be  sub-divided  into  absenteeism  and presenteeism. Presenteeism  describes  workers  who  are  present  but  not  fully  productive  because  of  health-related  concerns  such  as  discomfort,  depression,  anxiety  or  musculoskeletal  pain  related  to  ergonomic  issues  (Jinnett  et  al,  2008).

  • Overall, the  criticality  of  enhancing  worker  productivity  is  increasingly  being  recognized  as  important  to  the  profitability  of  business activities.

  • Presbyopes using computers may  suffer  from  ergonomic issues. Typically  prescribed  bifocals  are  designed  for  reading  at  a  relatively  low  angle  and  at  a  distance  of  16  inches  (40  cm).    Since  computer  monitors  are  nearly  always  higher  in  the  field  of vision  and  further  away  (20  inches  or  50  cm),  presbyopes  are  forced  to  tilt  their  head  back  to  achieve  the  proper  viewing  angle  and  at  the  same  time,  to  move  forward  to  adjust  for  the  distance  of  the monitor.

  • This paper outlines a protocol designed  to  assess  the  real-world  workplace return-on-investment  (ROI)  of  a  computer-specific  vision  intervention  benefit  for

SUMMARY

Although studies have suggested potential benefits of specially -designed eye glasses for computer use (Brewer et al, 2006; Daum  et al, 2004), no study in the workplace has confirmed the benefits of a vision intervention for presbyopes.


This proposal describes a prospective, randomized, parallel -group comparison of workplace productivity, visual comfort and visual function of presbyopic call -center employees  using computers wearing habitual bifocal lenses (with uncorrected refractive error (RE)), best  refractive correction and traditional bifocal lenses or specially -designed computer eyewear, the  Essilor Computer lens.


The hypothesis of the study is that computer users wearing an accurate prescription and optimized Essilor Computer lenses will demonstrate greater productivity, visual comfort and visual function than workers wearing their best refractive correction and traditional bifocal lenses and that workers wearing their best refractive correction and traditional bifocal lenses will, in turn, demonstrate greater productivity, visual comfort and visual function than  workers wearing lenses with their habitual RE and traditional bifocal lenses.


Estimates of changes in productivity over the course of a year will also enable an assessment of the return on investment of the intervention and the study is designed to allow an assessment of the relative importance of refractive error and lens design in using a computer.

Publication date

March 26, 2015

Publication

Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, Arvo Journal

Sponsor Institution

Illinois College of Optometry, Institute for Work & Health, Essilor of America Inc., DeRango & Associates, LLC, Wellpoint Vision

Authors

Kent M. Daum O.D., Ph.D.
Share this