New Research from OnePoll and VSP Vision finds American workers begin to experience eye strain in virtual meetings within 27 minutes

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. – New research conducted by OnePoll, on behalf of VSP Vision™, reveals a concerning trend among American workers: they begin to experience eye strain just 27 minutes into virtual meetings. 

The survey, which polled 2,000 employed Americans split by generation, sheds light on the long-term impacts of an increasingly digital workforce, including screen fatigue and eye health concerns. 

“In today’s digital world, it’s more important than ever to get your eyes checked annually,” said Dr. Jennifer Chinn, a second-generation optometrist at Dr. Chinn’s Vision Care in San Diego, California. “Beyond assessing the best ways to protect and treat your eyes from digital eye strain, annual visits to the eye doctor are critical to assessing your overall eye health and potentially helping to identify other serious health conditions, such as diabetes. 

Key findings from the study include:
•    Virtual meeting fatigue: 71% of survey respondents said they attend virtual meetings, with a significant number reporting they’ve experienced blurry vision (38%), dry eyes (37%) and headaches (32%) – all of which are symptoms of digital eye strain.

•    Eye health concerns: 40% of participants reported they feel their eye health has deteriorated over the last year, yet 31% haven’t had an eye exam in the last two years.

•    Screen overload: The study found typical workers juggle four different screens daily, and 32% of respondents reported experiences with “screen fatigue” at least daily. An additional 18% struggle with “screen fatigue” multiple times a day.

•    Looking professional: 66% of respondents take those who are dressed professionally more seriously during virtual meetings than those who aren’t, and 49% agree that glasses make someone appear more professional. Further, 32% agree that they consider people who wear glasses to be smarter than those who don’t, and 24% of Gen Z reported wearing glasses as a fashion statement.

“Whether you wear glasses or not, excessive exposure to screens and the blue light they emit may contribute to digital eye strain,” said VSP Vision Vice President of Clinical and Medical Affairs Dr. Valerie Sheety-Pilon. “Eye health is more than taking frequent breaks while working on digital devices. It’s visiting an eye doctor regularly, practicing good visual hygiene, and wearing the right prescription eyewear that may include blue-light-reducing technology, if recommended by your eye care provider.” 

For more information on the study and tips for maintaining eye health in the virtual work era, visit https://www.vsp.com/eyewear-wellness/eye-health/preserving-vision-in-the-virtual-work-era.

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About VSP Vision
At VSP Vision™, our purpose is to empower human potential through sight. As the first national not-for-profit vision benefits company, this is what drives everything we do. For nearly 70 years, VSP has been the leader in health-focused vision care. Every day, the people that power our complementary businesses—VSP^® Vision Care, Marchon Eyewear, Inc., Visionworks^®, Eyefinity^®, Eyeconic, VSP^® Optics, and VSP^® Ventures—work together to create a world where everyone can bring their best vision to life. That means providing affordable access to eye care and eyewear for more than 85 million members through a network of more than 41,000 doctors. It also means expanding access to vision care to those disadvantaged by income, distance, or disaster through VSP Vision™ Eyes of Hope^®. To date, more than 3.8 million people in need have received access to no-cost eye care and eyewear through one of our Eyes of Hope programs. Learn more about how we’re reinvesting in greater vision, health, and opportunities for all at vspvision.com.