Few employees realize how lifestyle choices can impact their eye health, according to the Employee Perceptions of Vision Benefits survey by Transitions Optical Inc.

In fact, only 16 percent of respondents say they receiver education from their employers about eye health, which is a missed opportunity as 85 percent of respondents say they would take steps to quit smoking if they knew it affected their eye health.

"Employers are always looking for ways to motivate employees to improve their overall health, and it's ironic to consider that the answer may have been right in front of their eyes all along," says Smith Wyckoff, key account manager, managed care and online retail of Transitions Optical. "By educating their work force about the eye health impact of many of the things that we do every day – from not getting enough sleep, to not eating right, to smoking – employers can help protect their employees' vision and maybe even persuade them to change unhealthy habits, helping employers and their employees reap the benefits of lower health care costs and increased productivity.