Simple eye examination could save businesses millions

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:

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  diabetes


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  heart conditions


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  cancers of the eye


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  brain tumours


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  high cholesterol


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  hypertension (high blood pressure)


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  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.’

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  There are currently 2.6 million people diagnosed with diabetes in the UK


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  Around 2.5 million people are currently living with heart disease in the UK


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  An estimated 40% of adults suffer from hypertension

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

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  Last year the cost of absence was £16.8bn across the economy as a whole


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  The average rate of absence in 2009, was 6.4 days per employee


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  Around 5.8 million scheduled working days are lost to sickness or injury each year

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.