We are spending more time staring at screens, leading to an increase in Computer Vision Syndrome, now affecting 9 out of 10 office workers. CVS is a serious issue causing blurred vision and severe headaches. Prevention is as simple as taking a break, but people are too busy or forget.

How could optometrist OPSM encourage workers to care for their eyes?

We took advantage of one break workers already have as part of their routine – the tea break. Liasing with the University of Melbourne we created a simple biscuit that also enabled workers to exercise their eye muscles by changing their focal point, helping counteract strain caused by screens. Tins of these biscuits were then delivered to office kitchens across Australia.

OPSM is on track to incorporate regular eye exercise into the daily routine of approximately 180,000 workers, mitigating the impact of CVS.

Tins of the biscuits were delivered to office kitchens, transforming the tea break into a healthy eye workout in three easy bites.

Reaching out to HR Managers from companies in the OPSM corporate benefits program (with more than 46 companies) and offered to help improve the eye health of their employees – for free. We explained the scale of the issue and once onboarded, we delivered them kits which helped raise awareness of the issue as well as a tin of our very special biscuits.

By associating the office tea break with eye exercise, we were creating long-term behavioural change to address this serious ongoing issue.

This biscuit is now part of the “OPSM Eyes at Work” program, with a plan to incorporate regular eye exercises into the daily routines of approximately 180,000 Australian workers this year - mitigating the effects of CVS.

It's a true demonstration of OPSM's commitment to eye health: Addressing a modern day health problem, with a little biscuit.