PINELLAS PARK, Fla., Feb. 25, 2016 – Employers have long assumed that offering a generous frame selection as part of a vision benefit package is important to their style-conscious employees.  However, new research suggests that employees’ definition of stylish eyewear extends to lens choice as well. According to the 2016 annual Employee Perceptions of Vision Benefits survey conducted by Wakefield Research for Transitions Optical, Inc., 58 percent of employees said brand name frames define “stylish” eyewear, but lenses were not far behind; with 39 percent identifying lens color and tint, and 30 percent citing lens technology. Further, 90 percent of employees agree that a vision plan offering coverage of premium brands and lens materials helps them select stylish eyewear, and an equal percentage agreed that a vision plan is more competitive if it covers premium lens brands.

Despite the overwhelming majority who look for plans that deliver premium benefits, more than a quarter (26 percent) say they are uninformed about the lens materials covered by their employer-sponsored vision plan.

"The optical industry continues to meet consumer demand and move toward a more fashion-focused offering," said Drew Smith, associate director, North America channels, Transitions Optical. "However, if consumers are unaware of their full range of eyewear options available to fit their style, they won't see the value in their vision plans - and ultimately will be left unsatisfied."

Frame and Lens Choice Are Critical Components of Personal Style
Overall, the majority of employees are satisfied with the coverage of high-end frames and lens brands through their employer-sponsored vision plans. But for those who are dissatisfied with their options, the research shows that a significant contributing factor is limited frame and lens choice. Nearly 60 percent of employees who say they were prevented from making their desired eyewear purchase, attribute it to an insufficient selection of frames and lenses. Likewise, among those whose frame allowance did not allow them to select eyewear that fits their personal style, more than one-third (39 percent) said it was because they felt they had a restricted frame choice.

"The findings suggest that employers could improve the appeal of vision benefits by ensuring plans offered to employees deliver excellent coverage of premium lens brands and frames, and that they take extra effort to ensure employees are aware of this coverage," said Jonathan Ormsby, strategic account manager, Transitions Optical.


Vision Benefits Are In Vogue
Vision benefits remain a popular election among employees, with eight in 10 choosing to enroll in employer-sponsored plans. In fact, according to a year-over-year comparison of the Transitions Employee Perceptions of Vision Benefits surveys, vision is the only benefit to experience increased enrollment; all other standard offerings (medical, dental, life, 401K programs) saw slight decreases compared to 2015. After medical, vision insurance tied with dental as the second most popular election, due to the growing number of employees enrolling.  It is the first time throughout Transitions Optical’s history of surveying employees, that vision benefits ranked as the No. 2 most popular election.  


The survey also found that more than three-quarters (77 percent) of those enrolled in a vision plan have used it to pay for all or part of a comprehensive eye exam for themselves in the past year. However, utilization varies among generations. Millennials were the demographic group most likely to take advantage of their vision benefits. Nearly 30 percent of employees aged 18-34 said they used the vision benefits more than once to pay for an eye health appointment in the past year, compared to 18 percent of Gen Xers and 17 percent of Baby Boomers.

To help elevate the importance of eye exams and quality eyewear available through a vision benefit, Transitions Optical offers a variety of employee and employer focused tools and education. These can be accessed free of charge through the Transitions Healthy Sight Working for You® public education program.

ABOUT TRANSITIONS HEALTHY SIGHT WORKING FOR YOU®

Transitions Healthy Sight Working for You® is a public education initiative established by Transitions Optical, Inc. to raise awareness of the value of quality vision benefits. Reaching employers, benefits brokers and employees, the program outreach focuses on ways that comprehensive vision care and the right eyewear options can help to manage health care costs and increase productivity. Complimentary vision savings calculators and other employee education materials are available through HealthySightWorkingforYou.org.

i Online survey conducted by Wakefield Research on behalf of Transitions Optical, Inc. in November 2015 among 1,000 nationally representative U.S. adults, ages 18+, employed full- or part-time, whose employers offer vision benefits.


Kelsey Thompson
Senior Account Executive
Office Havas PR, 4 PPG Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Email Kelsey.Thompson@havasww.com  Web us.havaspr.com
Mob 412-855-5332