Research from Unity Vision Shows Eye Exams Can Detect 270+ Health Conditions

James

Key takeaways:

Research from Unity Vision shows eye exams can now detect over 270 health conditions, sometimes before symptoms show up.
This makes access to routine vision exams a particularly valuable benefit.
Early detection also reduces overall health costs for employees and employers.

Research from Unity Vision found that a simple eye exam can detect over 270 different health conditions, ranging from diabetes to some rare forms of cancer.

In light of these findings, it’s clear that a good vision plan is a key element of any benefits package rather than an add-on. In fact, the estimated ROI for offering a vision plan is $7 per dollar spent on average.

Let’s take a closer look at the research and how much employers can save on health-related costs by facilitating access to eye exams.

Research from Unity Vision Shows Eye Exams Can Detect 270+ Health Conditions

During a routine eye exam, eye doctors can observe the blood vessels, nerves and tissues without having to perform invasive procedures.

This can reveal early signs of over 270 different health conditions. On top of catching a wide range of health issues, eye exams are also likely to spot these issues early, which significantly improves health outcomes and reduces treatment costs.

This number keeps increasing thanks to new technology and diagnosis tools. For instance, AI-powered retinal imagery can spot things the human eye might miss.

What Kind of Health Conditions Can an Eye Exam Detect?

Among the more than 270 health conditions an eye exam can detect, many are serious health concerns. This makes regular eye exams an important part of an employee’s preventive care benefits.

Here’s what an eye doctor can spot during an eye exam:

Metabolic and cardiovascular conditions: Changes to the blood vessels in the eye can indicate high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes. In fact, 34% of diabetes cases are initially identified through vision care.
Neurological conditions: An eye exam can reveal early signs of multiple sclerosis, brain tumor or Parkinson’s Disease.
Autoimmune and inflammatory conditions: Rheumatoid arthritis, a condition that affects 1.5 million people in the U.S., can be detected through an eye exam, along with lupus or thyroid disease.
Cancers: Modern diagnosis tools used by eye doctors can spot early signs of melanoma, leukemia and lymphoma.
Other conditions: Eye doctors can spot many other conditions during a simple exam, including kidney disease, medication toxicity and more.

For a more comprehensive list of the conditions an eye exam can detect, download Unity Vision’s research on the topic.

Why Early Detection Matters for Employees and Employers

Catching health issues early with an eye exam has two main benefits:

It means treatment can begin before the health condition has a chance to progress. For employees, this translates into better health outcomes and a better quality of life in the case of a chronic condition.
Cost-wise, treatment and management are a lot less expensive when a disease is addressed in its early stages. For instance, the first year of treatment for hypertension costs around $2,600 less when the condition is diagnosed during an eye exam compared to a patient getting a later diagnosis.

Besides spending less on treatment, cost avoidance extends to fewer missed days of work and employees who remain productive as they manage their diagnosis.

Over 270 Conditions and 7x ROI: The Case for Vision Plans

With the ability to detect over 270 health conditions, often before symptoms appear, routine eye exams play a critical role in protecting employee health while reducing long-term healthcare costs. Combined with an average return on investment of $7 per dollar spent, vision plans are one of the best investments employers can make in their workforce.

Now is a good time to review the current vision plans you offer, or think about adding a vision plan to your benefits package if you don’t already offer one.

Get a quote from Unity Vision if you’re interested in upgrading your benefits package and improving access to preventive care.

FAQ

What types of conditions can be identified through a vision exam?
Eye exams can reveal a wide range of conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, multiple sclerosis and even some cancers.

How do vision plans help reduce overall healthcare costs?
Vision plans encourage employees to schedule routine eye exams, increasing the chances of catching conditions early. Early-stage treatment is typically much less expensive than managing advanced conditions, which lowers treatment costs.

What is the ROI of offering a vision plan?
Research from Unity Vision estimates that employers can see a return of approximately $7 for every $1 spent on vision benefits. This ROI comes from reduced medical costs, improved employee health and better retention.

How many health conditions can an eye exam detect?

Research from Unity Vision found that a routine eye exam can detect over 270 different health conditions, sometimes in their early stages. Thanks to better diagnosis tools and advanced tech like AI, this number keeps increasing.