Survey finds environmental conditions are affecting eye health, but what can plan sponsors do to mitigate the risks?
Despite nearly universal recognition of eye health as a key component of wellbeing and a productive workforce, most Canadians are in the dark about how to protect their vision, particularly from the growing risks of environmental exposure.
This was one of the sharper findings from a new national survey conducted by the Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS), aimed at unpacking public understanding of eye care and the role of eye health professionals.
Dr. Nina Ahuja, chair of the Council on Advocacy for the Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS), emphasized that external environmental conditions are playing an increasingly serious role in eye health, pointing to climate change, air quality, and screen use as major contributors.
One of the most significant threats, she explained, is ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which is intensifying due to changes in the ozone layer.
“Increased UV exposure of type A and B are known to increase progression of cataracts or impact macular degeneration,” she said, adding that that UV rays can also worsen glaucoma by affecting pressure-sensitive tissues in the eye.
Polluted air, particularly in wildfire-prone areas, also pose a direct risk. Ahuja noted that airborne irritants can lead to dry eye and allergic reactions, even in everyday settings like workplaces.
“Those also can impact the quality of the health of the surface of the eye,” she said, referencing the increasing prevalence of eye discomfort during wildfire seasons.
However, additional findings found that concern is declining in wildfire-prone provinces despite ongoing risk. In British Columbia, concern dropped from 49 per cent last year to 37 per cent this year, and in Alberta, from 44 per cent to 36 per cent, even as wildfires continue to burn.
Ahuja suggested that declining concern about eye health in these regions might not indicate improved environmental conditions, but rather a growing public familiarity with managing common symptoms.
“People have learned that if your eyes feel dry, you put some artificial tears in, then the issue is resolved. They’re learning how to deal with the symptoms that come with changes in the environment, with increased pollution, increased smoke, and so therefore it's now perhaps shifting to other areas of health,” she said.
She also touched on altitude, which amplifies UV exposure, and the less visible but equally harmful effects of excessive screen time. While not technically an “extreme” environmental factor, digital exposure is becoming a chronic issue.
“We're often on our computers and on our phones which leads to eye strain and headaches and not being able to work on the computer as long because it can also impact your vision if you don't blink a lot,” she noted.
“It’s something that’s becoming more and more of an issue nowadays,” added Ahuja, emphasizing taking breaks from screen time becomes really important.
With wildfires increasingly impacting air quality across Canada and prolonged exposure to summer UV rays, Sumant Ugalmugale asserted it’s crucial for employers to be proactive in helping plan members protect their eyes.
They can support employees by educating plan members about environmental risks and through workplace wellness programs, encouraging regular eye exams as part of employee health benefits and provide tips on screen breaks, protective eyewear, and indoor air quality improvements for those affected by smoky conditions.
Plan members should also actively wear UV-blocking sunglasses, using lubricating eye drops, avoiding outdoor activities during peak pollution hours, and staying hydrated.
“By staying informed and taking simple protective measures, both individuals and employers can help preserve long-term eye health in the face of changing environmental challenges,” said Ugalmugale, consultant at Metatech Insights.
Additionally, Ibrahim Daides emphasized the importance of comprehensive examination allowance.
“It is all about prevention and early detection… Canadians are delaying or skipping eye examinations because of cost. The single best thing employers can do for their employees is modernize their vision benefits plans to allow full coverage for comprehensive eye examinations by optometrists which include modern diagnostic imaging, as well as recall partial examinations when pathology is present or suspected,” he said in an email.
“Most plans still do not allow for this despite the clear evidence that they should.”
Pam Theriot, optometrist and dry eye specialist, suggested employers may want to promote "un-plug breaks" where employees step away from their computers and put their phones down.
“Playing music or having a conversation on their breaks instead of staring at a screen would go a long way with having meaningful down time from their daily tasks,” she said in an email.
She also suggests employers provide educational newsletters to explain how their employees can support their eyes.
“They could make some of these hygiene products available to their employees in the form of single use artificial tears, lid and lash cleansing wipes, or disposable warm compresses,” she said.
Similarly, Ahuja noted simple tools like posters, handouts, or infographics can go a long way in educating employees about both the importance of vision care and the different types of professionals involved.
Regular exposure to this information in the workplace, she argued, could help prevent injuries and maintain long-term visual health.
More education needed
While the results showed that a vast majority, roughly 97 per cent of Canadians considered eye health a crucial part of their overall well being, the findings also revealed a troubling lack of education around what supports good vision.
Ahuja noted that many respondents had only a surface-level understanding of eye health and professional roles in eye care.
“About 50 per cent of Canadians were not as well versed in what contributes to eye health and how they can optimize it,” she noted. That lack of clarity extended to the roles of ophthalmologists themselves, with roughly half of Canadians unaware that they are fully trained medical doctors who undergo years of specialized education.
“That has helped inform us in terms of what we should be doing in educating people… Not just on eye conditions, but also to understand the various eye care professionals available to them,” she said.
