Eye care claims on Health Shield’s Health Cash Plans fell by more than a quarter (28%) in 2020, despite four in 10 adults (42%) claiming their eyesight had deteriorated since the start of the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.
According to the health and wellbeing solutions provider, although claims including appointments, glasses and lenses are picking up this year, there is a risk that homeworker eye test requirements are still on the back burner.
Because of this, the company wants employers to remember their their duty of care and is urging employees to maintain good eye health, especially where home or hybrid working is now long-term or permanent.
Jennie Doyle, head of marketing at Health Shield, highlighted that the eye care claims data suggests that employees have not been seeking professional eye care over the last year.
She said: “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 and Safety Executive states that employers have a legal duty to protect employees from harm by completing risk assessments and acting on the findings."
Doyle added :"For homeworkers these risks include lone working without supervision, working with display screen equipment, 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.”
