There’s an old saying: “The eyes are windows to the soul.” We all know that it just means that a person’s eyes are the easiest way to gauge their emotional state or even their intentions.
However, a growing body of data indicates that a person’s eyes can also be windows to their general health. In other words, eye health has a direct correlation with the health of the rest of the body.
The eye exam is among the easiest and most cost-effective early detection systems for serious illness. This simple test can detect evidence of approximately 273 chronic diseases, including certain kinds of cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disorder, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), diabetes, various heart conditions, meningitis, certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs), asthma, eczema, gout, hepatitis, and hypertension, even before any physical symptoms emerge.
For example, a 2010 study found that 20% of people with diabetes discovered their disease through a comprehensive eye exam. Additionally, visible damage to the retina due to impaired blood flow is a helpful symptom when identifying cardiovascular disease before a heart attack or stroke occurs.
As a result, regular eye exams should be considered a vital part of any holistic program of health and wellness. Because eye health is an excellent indicator for overall health, it’s important that workers understand just how much they can benefit from a vision coverage program that includes regular eye exams. Although 84% of people consider vision their most important sense, about 50% still skip their annual eye exams!
That means vision benefits are no longer just a “perk” that’s nice to have. Companies today need to view vision coverage as part of a holistic approach to health and preventive health care plans for employees.
Here at CoPower, we are proud to partner with a carrier like VSP that prioritizes members and provides the best care at the lowest out-of-pocket costs. This includes regular eye exams as a program of holistic health and preventative treatment.
We also provide comprehensive ancillary benefit solutions and the ability for employers to build custom bundles for their employees, either by mixing and matching or grabbing a pre-made bundle.
Contact your Amwins Connect Sales Representative to learn more about our bundled benefit offerings with comprehensive vision solutions!