{"id":177314,"date":"2022-10-18T04:47:38","date_gmt":"2022-10-18T03:47:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/?p=177314"},"modified":"2026-04-17T06:55:29","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T05:55:29","slug":"employees-eye-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/employment\/employees-eye-health\/","title":{"rendered":"I am an Employer. Do I Need to Care for My Employee&#8217;s Eye Health in the UK?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>As an employer in the UK, you are responsible for your employees&#8217; health, safety and wellbeing. This duty extends to their eye health, particularly for those who regularly use screens or drive as part of their role. Understanding these obligations helps you avoid potential issues with the Health and Safety Executive whilst supporting your workforce effectively. This article outlines your responsibilities regarding employee eye health and the practical steps you need to take.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is an Employer\u2019s Legal Duty Towards Employee Health?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your legal duty of care towards your employees means that you must do what is reasonable to ensure you support their health, safety and wellbeing. This includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>providing a safe working environment;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ensuring that <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/employment\/employment-discrimination\/\">discrimination does not occur<\/a>; and&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>making sure that risk assessments take place.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Legal Duty to Provide Eye Tests for Vehicle Drivers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You are legally required to ensure that any employees who drive as part of their job or operate specialised machinery are fit to do so. This applies whether they drive company vehicles or use their own vehicles for work purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div  class=\"box box--icon box--info\">\n    <p>While paying for an employee\u2019s eye test in this scenario is not a legal requirement, you may wish to do so to ensure your employees undertake the requisite testing and are fit to carry out their duties.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<a href=\"#content-next\"\n   class=\"block p-4 mt-10 text-xl font-bold text-center text-white no-underline bg-gray-800 rounded-t-xl\">\n    Continue reading this article below the form\n    <i class=\"text-xl fa-regular fa-arrow-down\"><\/i>\n<\/a>\n<div class=\"px-6 pt-10 pb-12 mb-10 text-center bg-gray-100 rounded-b-xl sm:px-12 test\">\n    <div class=\"mb-8 text-2xl font-bold text-orange\">\n        Need legal advice?\n        <br>\n        <span class=\"text-lg not-prose\">\n                            Call <a href=\"tel:+448081968584\" class=\"not-prose\">0808 196 8584<\/a> for urgent assistance.\n    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The frequency depends on individual circumstances and risk assessments. However, you should provide an eye test:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>when an employee first becomes a regular DSE user;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>at regular intervals thereafter (typically every one to two years for most employees);<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>when an employee experiences visual difficulties that may be related to DSE work; or<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>when there are changes to the workstation or working practices that could affect eye health.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You may want to establish a policy that sets out recommended intervals for eye tests, taking into account factors such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>the age of your employees (older employees may need more frequent tests);<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the intensity and duration of DSE use;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>any existing eye conditions; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the results of workstation assessments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div  class=\"box box--icon box--info\">\n    <p>Keeping records of when employees have had eye tests can help you manage this obligation effectively and demonstrate compliance if questioned by the Health and Safety Executive.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Arrange an Eye Test<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If an employee requests an eye test, you should arrange and pay for both vision and eye examinations. Additionally, you may have an arrangement with a specific optician in place if it is likely that many of your employees require an eye test. As an employer, you will be responsible for the cost of the eye test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Provide Glasses&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If the eye test indicates that your employee has poor eye health, requiring them to wear special corrective appliances such as prescription glasses when using their DSE for work, then you must cover the basic cost of the glasses. On the other hand, if an ordinary prescription suffices, you are not legally required to pay for the glasses. In addition, if your employee wants to upgrade their frames or lenses, they would usually be required to pay these additional costs themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You must look after your employee\u2019s eye health when they are a DSE user because DSE work can negatively affect their eyes, particularly when it concerns long periods of use. For example, it can cause:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>computer vision syndrome;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>itchy eyes;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>temporary short-sightedness; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>headaches.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div  class=\"box box--icon box--info\">\n    <p>In addition to providing eye tests and covering the basic cost of glasses or other corrective appliances, you are also legally obliged to assess all your <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/employment\/employee-workstations\/\">DSE workstations<\/a>, which should indicate if there are any health risks. Ultimately, you are under a legal obligation to take action to reduce these risks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When Eye Health is a Disability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If your employee\u2019s eye health causes them to have a disability, you have further legal obligations. A disability is where your employee\u2019s eye health:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>affects their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>is an issue which does or is expected to occur for at least 12 months; and&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>has a \u2018substantial and adverse effect\u2019 on their life.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If your employee\u2019s eye health is a disability, you have legal obligations to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>not&nbsp; discriminate against them because of their disability; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>make <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/employment\/reasonable-adjustments\/\">reasonable adjustments<\/a>, which could mean making changes to their job that help reduce (or remove) any issues that prevent them from carrying out their role.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>We recommend that you seek the guidance of Occupational Health, your employee\u2019s GP or an optician when considering workplace adjustments for a disabled employee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Further Points to Note About Eye Care<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are other valuable points you should be aware of regarding how you need to care for your employer\u2019s eyes. Firstly, you are legally required to arrange and pay for an eye test upon your employee\u2019s request, even if they:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>are new to your business; and&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>had an eye test for their DSE use at their previous workplace.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, you may wish to create a corporate eyecare scheme that can reduce your eye care costs as an employer in the long term by prepaying for tests and offering employees vouchers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div  class=\"box box--icon box--info\">\n    <p dir=\"auto\"><strong>Key Statistics<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol dir=\"auto\">\n<li><strong>62.6%:<\/strong> 62.6% of working adults in the UK and Ireland experience digital eye strain from prolonged screen use.<\/li>\n<li><strong>69%:<\/strong> Computer Vision Syndrome affects around 69% of computer users globally, increasing workplace visual discomfort.<\/li>\n<li><strong>68%:<\/strong> 68% of employees suffer digital eye strain symptoms, adversely affecting productivity and wellbeing.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p dir=\"auto\"><strong>Sources<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol dir=\"auto\">\n<li>Moore et al. (2024)<\/li>\n<li>Kahal (2025)<\/li>\n<li>VSP Vision Care \/ Workplace Intelligence (2025)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Additional Considerations for Employee Eye Health<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While meeting your legal obligations is crucial, there are additional steps you can take to support your employees. While meeting your legal obligations is crucial, there are additional steps you can take to support your employees\u2019 eye health that go beyond the minimum requirements, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>educating your employees by providing information and training on proper ergonomics and emphasising the importance of taking regular breaks when using DSE;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>implementing the 20-20-20 rule by encouraging employees to follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and look at something 20 feet away (approx. 6 metres). This may help reduce eye strain associated with prolonged screen use;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>optimising lighting by ensuring that your office has appropriate lighting that does not cause glare on screens. You may wish to consider installing adjustable lighting or providing anti-glare screens for monitors; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>utilising blue light filters. While the long-term effects of blue light from screens are still being studied, offering blue light filtering software or glasses may provide additional comfort for employees who spend long hours in front of screens.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>By going beyond the minimum legal requirements, you not only protect your employees\u2019 eye health but also demonstrate your commitment to their overall well-being. This can increase job satisfaction, improve productivity, and reduce absenteeism related to eye strain or vision problems.<\/p>\n\n\n    <div class=\"my-7 lg:my-10 border-y-2 border-gray-100 py-7 lg:py-10 flex flex-col sm:flex-row items-start gap-10\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"w-52 mx-auto my-0! rounded\" src=\"https:\/\/img.legalvision.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/03\/14011310\/LegalVision-UK-Guide-to-UK-Employment-Disputes.jpg\" alt=\"Front page of publication\"\n                 loading=\"lazy\" width=\"208\" height=\"298\">\n                <section>\n            <div class=\"text-2xl font-bold\">Guide to UK Employment Disputes<\/div>\n            <div class=\"body-text\">\n                <p>Learn how to manage employment disputes and protect your business from legal action. <\/p>\n            <\/div>\n            \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/go.legalvision.co.uk\/guide-to-uk-employment-disputes.html\" class=\" block px-5 py-3.5 max-w-fit bg-orange button__hover transition rounded text-white font-bold text-lg no-underline uppercase leading-tight text-center\" target=\"\" rel=\"\">Download Now<\/a>        <\/section>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As an employer, you have a legal duty to take reasonable steps to support your employee\u2019s health, safety and well-being. In most instances, this includes your employee\u2019s eye health. You also have a legal obligation to provide your employees with eye tests if they:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>drive or operate specialised machinery; and&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>use display screen equipment (DSE) or a visual display unit (VDU).&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you need assistance in staying compliant with your employment obligations, LegalVision provides ongoing legal support for all businesses through our fixed-fee legal membership. Our experienced <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/employment-lawyers-lp\/\">employment lawyers<\/a> help businesses across industries manage contracts, employment law, disputes, intellectual property, and more, with unlimited access to specialist lawyers for a fixed monthly fee.&nbsp;To learn more about LegalVision\u2019s legal membership, call <a href=\"tel:+448081968584\" class=\"AVANSERnumber dynamic-number\">0808 196 8584<\/a> or&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/membership\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">visit our membership page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1738063887950\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What is the 20-20-20 rule, and why is it important?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The 20-20-20 rule is an eye care guideline that recommends taking a 20-second break every 20 minutes to look at something 20 feet away. This practice is important because it helps reduce eye strain associated with prolonged screen use by giving your eyes a chance to refocus and relax.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1738063895677\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Can employers require employees to have regular eye tests?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">While employers cannot force employees to have eye tests, they can strongly encourage them, especially for regular DSE users. As an employer, you should provide eye tests upon request for regular DSE users, but you cannot make them mandatory. However, you can include eye tests as part of your health and safety policy and emphasise their importance in maintaining overall employee well-being.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1770652390266\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What counts as a &#8220;regular&#8221; DSE user?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">An employee is considered a regular DSE user if they use DSE for continuous periods of an hour or more on a daily basis. This includes employees who work with computers, laptops, tablets or similar devices as a significant part of their role. Occasional or brief use of DSE does not trigger the same legal obligations.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1770652411451\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Do I have to pay for eye tests for remote workers?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes, your obligations extend to employees who work from home or remotely. If they are regular DSE users, you must provide and pay for eye tests upon request, regardless of where they work in the UK. You should also assess their home workstation setup to identify any risks, although you may need to rely on self-assessment questionnaires or virtual assessments for remote workers.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As an employer in the UK, you are responsible for your employees&#8217; health, safety and wellbeing. This duty extends to their eye health, particularly for those who regularly use screens or drive as part of their role. Understanding these obligations helps you avoid potential issues with the Health and Safety Executive whilst supporting your workforce<a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/employment\/employees-eye-health\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"sr-only\">&#8220;I am an Employer. Do I Need to Care for My Employee&#8217;s Eye Health in the UK?&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13510,"featured_media":191822,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"2296,176033,172478,174948,1134,1791","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[20,21,220,221,2392],"class_list":["post-177314","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-employment","tag-small-business","tag-medium-business","tag-health-and-safety","tag-health-and-safety-policy","tag-eye-health"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Employer&#039;s Duties for an Employee&#039;s Eye Health | LegalVision UK<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"This article will explain what you, as an employer, need to know about caring for your employee\u2019s eye health in the UK.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/employment\/employees-eye-health\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Employer&#039;s Duties for an Employee&#039;s Eye Health | LegalVision UK\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"This article will explain what you, as an employer, need to know about caring for your employee\u2019s eye health in the UK.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/employment\/employees-eye-health\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"LegalVision UK\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/LegalVision\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-10-18T03:47:38+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-17T05:55:29+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/img.legalvision.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/12\/06043640\/pexels-marcus-aurelius-4063619.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1333\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Albert Cole\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@LegalVision_law\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@LegalVision_law\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Albert Cole\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/employment\/employees-eye-health\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/employment\/employees-eye-health\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Albert Cole\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/f40597fd9295f0dd4d13a5346b152798\"},\"headline\":\"I am an Employer. 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