VSP Vision Care
woman with glasses holding phone

Battling Blue Light in a Digitally Driven Environment … and Why it’s Essential

In this 3-minute Read, You’ll Learn About:

man and woman walking

Workers Average 97 Hours of Screen Time Per Week1

Can you recall a day you went without sunlight, artificial light, or a digital device? Of course not! These things are part of our daily lives—and because screen time has skyrocketed, so too has our exposure to blue light.

Blue light can keep us alert and elevate our mood; but too much of it, especially from artificial sources like digital screens, may contribute to digital eye strain.2 With two out of three people in the U.S. experiencing eye strain,3 there’s never been a better time to help workers reduce excessive blue light exposure.

Where Is All the Blue Light Coming From?

Well, the workplace for starters. In a typical week, employees are spending 97 hours a week on screens—up from 96.1 hours last year. While this may seem like a marginal increase, this amounts to more than four full 24-hour days per week, or 210 days per year.4

So, it’s no surprise that screen time is taking its toll on employees’ eyes.

70% of employees say excessive screen time is the number one factor impacting their eye health.5

Some of the reasons employees have cited for increased hours include:6

  • 69%
    believe that it’s
    expected of them
  • 42%
    say it’s due to their
    employer being understaffed
  • 25%
    report feeling obligated
    because their manager does
  • 21%
    say their company rewards those
    who work more with perks like
    promotions and raises

The Bad News About Blue Light and Your Bottom Line

Turns out, too much screen time isn’t just harmful to workers—it’s also bad for your bottom line.7 Let’s take a look at three major impacts to your business:

Poorer Outputs

First, you could see decreased employee productivity, focus, and quality of work. In fact, workers say their eye issues alone have negatively affected them in and outside of work.8

Missed Workdays

Over a quarter (27%) of employees have taken time off from work due to digital eye strain in 2024.9

Higher Costs

With 63% of employees struggling with at least one eye issue, businesses may also face higher healthcare costs due to an increased need for eye care services, corrective eyewear, and treatments for conditions exacerbated by screen exposure.10

eye issues bar chart

Source: 2025 Workplace Vision Health Report: Supporting Better Eye Health for Today’s Workforce. Workplace Intelligence Study on behalf of VSP® Vision Care

man and woman walking

How Employers Can Avoid the Blue Light Blues

Now for some good news! There are a number of things you can do to lessen the negative impact of screen time and excessive blue light exposure on both employees and your business.

Make Positive Changes to Policies and Culture:

  • Encourage team members to take breaks during the workday.
  • Provide anti-glare screens or screen protectors.
  • Recommend wearing blue light computer glasses during screen time.
  • Offer flexible hours to allow for breaking up screen time.
  • Educate employees on blue light, digital eye strain, and workspace optimization.

Make Eye Health a Focus for Your Whole Team:

  • Add vision benefits or improve your existing benefits plan.
  • Promote the use of vision benefits, at open enrollment and throughout the year.
  • Include coverage in your vision benefit for blue light reducing lens coatings like TechShield® Blue.
  • Champion preventive eye care and ways to reduce excessive blue light exposure.

Explore More Content

Ready to Battle Blue Light with Better Vision Care?

Request a quote or ask us how we can help enhance your vision benefits package.

Get in Touch
VSP logo

About VSP Vision Care

Celebrating 70 years in business, VSP was founded in 1955, and today is the largest vision insurance company in the United States. As the only national not-for-profit vision benefits company, VSP Vision Care provides access to eye care for over 88 million members through a network of more than 42,000 doctors.

Footnotes

1. 2025 Workplace Vision Health Report: Supporting Better Eye Health for Today’s Workforce. Workplace Intelligence Study on behalf of VSP Vision Care2. Blue Light and Your Eyes, Prevent Blindness, https://preventblindness.org/blue-light-and-your-eyes/3. Eyes Overexposed: The Digital Device Dilemma. The Vision Council. Vision Impact Institute; 2016. https://www.kodaklens.us/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/TheVisionCouncil_2016EyeStrain_Report_WEB.pdf4-5. 2025 Workplace Vision Health Report: Supporting Better Eye Health for Today’s Workforce. Workplace Intelligence Study on behalf of VSP Vision Care6. 2024 Workplace Vision Health Report: The Importance of Customized Benefits for a Diverse Workforce, a VSP study in partnership with Workplace Intelligence.7-10. 2025 Workplace Vision Health Report: Supporting Better Eye Health for Today’s Workforce. Workplace Intelligence Study on behalf of VSP Vision Care

Legal Disclaimer: Information received through VSP Vision Care's online channels is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, medical recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.