Study: Vision benefits save employers billions on health care expenditures

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. — VSP Vision Care released the findings of a new study showing $4.5 billion in client savings for profits, not-for-profits and government organizations through the early detection of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, high cholesterol and hypertension, via eye care and vision exams covered by vision insurance, according to a VSP press release.

The study, conducted by Human Capital Management Services Group, a national human capital consulting firm, found that eye doctors detected signs of certain chronic conditions before any other health care provider. This occurred 65% of the time for high cholesterol, 20% of the time for diabetes and 30% of the time for hypertension, according to the release.

"With the national health care system focused on prevention and early detection, annual eye exams play a critical role in detecting signs of chronic diseases even at the beginning stages, as eye doctors have the only unobstructed, noninvasive view of blood vessels," Susan Egbert, director of eye health management, VSP Vision Care, who commissioned the study, said in the release.

This means that for every $1 invested in VSP exam services, which include comprehensive annual eye exams during an employee's first year with the benefit, employers can expect an average 2-year total return of $1.27 in long-term health care savings as a result of avoided medical costs and increased employee productivity, the release said.