Despite reporting a strong interest in their company’s vision benefit, today’s aging U.S. workforce isn’t fully taking advantage of it, reveals the annual Employee Perceptions of Vision Benefits survey conducted by Transitions Optical, Inc.

Therefore, employees are missing out on a critical preventive care opportunity and leaving themselves at higher risk for age-related vision problems, eye diseases and chronic conditions that impact eye health and compromise productivity, according to a press release. Baby Boomers (ages 45-64) are only slightly more likely than younger employees to enroll in their vision benefit (79 percent versus. 75 percent). Similarly, 34 percent of Baby Boomers and 23 percent of those ages 65+ who enroll do not utilize their benefit to receive a comprehensive eye exam.

“A quality vision benefit is important for everyone, but especially for employees ages 45 and older, who are more likely to experience vision problems that hurt job performance,” said Pat Huot, director, managed vision care, Transitions Optical. “This age group also has a higher risk for developing costly eye diseases and whole body conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, all of which can be detected through comprehensive eye care, and addressed with the right eyewear to correct, enhance and protect vision.”

“With ongoing medical cost concerns among employers and employees alike, our survey findings have flagged a serious lost opportunity to help lower potential healthcare expenditures and boost productivity, and for consumers to take greater control of their health outcomes in the future.”

While the survey showed slight improvement over the previous study, “not having vision or eye health problems” remained the most commonly cited reason for not enrolling in a vision plan (32 percent versus 36 percent in the previous study), indicating a continued lack of understanding of the importance of preventative eye care.