Employers

Improving employee workspaces

Visual Stress affects 1 in 5 people and can cause headaches, light sensitivity, reading and concentration difficulties, and vision issues from concussions and acquired brain injuries (ABI).

This can lead to time off work with migraines and/or a difficulty returning to work after a head injury.

Affected employees are highly susceptible to visual discomfort and distortion, with light sensitivity being the most common complaint.

Sensitivity to light, glare, patterns, contrast, flicker, and movement is called “Visual Stress” and is triggered by stimuli found throughout the visual environment at work.

Common triggers that may affect your employees and impact productivity are:

Fluorescent lights (a source of light and flicker)
Computer screens (a source of light, glare, and high contrast)
Computer work, including scrolling and viewing text and tables (a source of contrast, pattern, and movement)
High contrast/small font text in documents (a source of contrast and pattern)
Vertical or horizontal blinds (a source of glare, contrast, and pattern)
Open-concept offices (a source of excess light, movement, and flicker)

Opticalm works with employers, ergonomists, vocational specialists, and workplace wellness and accommodations teams to help employees who are struggling with these sensitivities to manage their Visual Stress. The result is reduced headaches, fatigue and sick leave and increased productivity and wellness.

As an employer, you have a responsibility to accommodate employees and this can often be accomplished with simple, but often overlooked modifications, assistive tools/software, and alternative lighting.

Steps towards reducing Visual Stress in the workplace:

Computer Screen Tinting Software for a custom coloured screen filter
Non LCD Computer Monitors for helping with screen intolerance
Apps to add custom screen filters for smartphones and tablets
Overlays to improve perception and comfort when reading
Coloured paper and pens to reduce contrast and improve perception when reading or note-taking.
Coloured LED lightbulbs in desk lamps and for ambient lighting
Commercial LED retrofits lamps to replace harsh fluorescent lights

Precision tinted lenses are the best overall solution. Just like reading glasses are a better option than carrying around a magnifying glass, wearing precision tinted lenses reduces the need to make modifications or use assistive tools.

Employers can help their employees with simple, affordable solutions that can make a big difference in their work life.