Today’s “digitized workforce” is spending more time on electronic devices than ever before — during work hours, at home and even during breaks. Employees’ eyes are feeling the impact, and workers are increasingly concerned about vision protection.

The 2016 Transitions Optical Employee Perceptions of Vision Benefits survey, conducted by Wakefield Research, polled more than 1,000 part-time and full-time employees. Eight in 10 employees say they want more light protection in their eyewear. Some of this demand is likely being driven by the buzz around blue light. The media coverage about how the blue light from our digital devices can impact everything from quality sleep to digital eyestrain has gained a foothold in the public consciousness.

We’re in the early stages of growing consumer demand for blue light protection, and brokers and employers are well positioned to be part of the conversation. Benefit administrators and brokers who understand the importance of increasing vision benefit enrollment and encouraging more regular visits with an optometrist should view this as an opportunity to connect with members through a trending topic. Now is the time to enlighten employers and their employees about a growing health problem while offering a practical solution through a benefit already on the market — managed vision care. One-third of employees are unsure whether their current lenses provide protection from harmful blue light; but by all indications, making the link between lenses covered under a vision plan available through their employer and blue light protection is a topic they would tune into.