Study respondents were surveyed regarding their eyewear purchasing and wearing habits, including eye exams, prescription lenses, frames, contact lenses, exam/purchasing frequency, managed vision care and refractive surgery.

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“The top reason Americans without vision benefits do not get an eye exam or purchase prescription eyewear is cost,” Julian Roberts, executive director of the Louisville, Kentucky-based National Association of Vision Care Plans, said in a statement.

Enrollment in vision benefits during the last five years has risen almost 20 percent; that means that more than 50 percent of the population now have vision benefits. In addition, utilization reports collected by the association from the nation’s largest vision plans indicate that more than 8 out of 10 employers now offer a vision benefit as part of a standard benefit package.

The Alexandria, Virginia-based Vision Council reports that 75 percent of all patients who receive an eye exam are enrolled in a vision plan, indicating the strong influence vision benefits play in motivating Americans to seek regular vision care.

Optometric health experts point out that regular eye exams not only find changes in vision, but make sure that patients’ prescriptions are accurate. Employers should be aware that even small changes in vision can impact productivity, especially in an economy where the use of digital screens and other vision-dependent tasks are commonplace.

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But the benefits can go beyond eye care, since optometrists are also in a position to catch early signs of eye disease and serious medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and cholesterol. Since Americans are four times more likely to get an eye exam than a physical, optometrists can alert patients sooner to health risks beyond their vision.