Specsavers Corporate Eyecare has introduced simple eye-examination technology that could save businesses millions of pounds in absenteeism and long-term sick leave.

The digital retinal screening service, which is now available at almost all the 650 Specsavers stores in the UK, can detect and monitor the following illnesses and health conditions:

• diabetes
• various heart conditions
• cancers of the eye, such as melanomas
• brain tumours
• high cholesterol
• detached retina
• hypertension (high blood pressure)
• glaucoma

Jim Lythgow, director of strategic alliances for Specsavers Corporate Eyecare, explains: ‘A full eye examination could save an employer huge expense in terms of sick leave and could save an employee their life. Retinal examinations should be seen as an important part of an overall health-check for staff and vital for early detection and preventative care for staff.’

• There are currently 2.6 million people diagnosed with diabetes in the UK and over 500,000 people who have the condition but are unaware. (Diabetes UK, 2010)
• Around 2.5 million people are currently living with heart disease in the UK (British Heart Foundation, 2010)
• An estimated 40% of adults suffer from hypertension (Health Survey for England, published 2008)

For employers, this adds up to huge amounts of absence and lost revenue:

• Last year the cost of absence was £16.8bn across the economy as a whole (CBI absence and workplace health survey 2010)
• The average rate of absence in 2009, was 6.4 days per employee (CBI absence and workplace health survey 2010)
• Around 5.8 million scheduled working days are lost to sickness or injury each year (Office for National Statistics, 2008)

Jim Lythgow, continues: ‘The eyes are windows to overall health. A full eye examination with our new digital retinal cameras can allow opticians to spot the early signs of a wide range of serious conditions such as diabetes, cancers, heart conditions and hypertension. These conditions affect vast numbers of the UK’s working population and can be related to long-term sick-leave and absenteeism.’

Many of the conditions that can be detected during a full eye examination can be related to long-term sickness. Detecting and treating these illnesses at an early stage can make a huge difference. For instance occupational health experts state that a heart attack will result in an absolute minimum of six week’s absence from work and possibly very much longer. A full eye examination, including the use of a retinal (fundus) camera, can cost as little as £17.