Employees have risked deteriorating eyesight by failing to maintain check ups with their optician during the pandemic.
The warning comes from Health Shield, which revealed eyecare claims on its health cash plans, including appointments, glasses and lenses, fell by 28% in 2020, compared to the previous year.
The provider also warned that while claims were picking up this year, there was a risk that homeworker eye-test requirements were still on the back burner for many.
Jennie Doyle, head of marketing at Health Shield, said: “Working from home has inevitably led to increased time in front of a screen for so many people over the last year, and as this becomes a norm for many going forward, this cannot be dismissed as a short-term issue anymore.
“Our data suggests that employees have not been seeking professional eyecare over the last year as claims for eye appointments, glasses and lenses are down by over a quarter on the previous year.”
Doyle hihlighted that it is a legal obligation for all employers in the UK whose employees use a screen for more than an hour a day to pay for eye-tests if the employee requests one.
“In addition, the Health & Safety Executive states that employers have a legal duty to protect employees from harm by completing risk assessments and acting on the findings,” she continued.
“For homeworkers these risks include lone working without supervision, working with display screen equipment (DSE), stress and mental health.
“Now more than ever, we urge employees to utilise this benefit, particularly if they have health cash plans where this will come as standard.”
