Corporate Eye Care

An Employer’s Legal Obligations

Your employees’ eyesight is your company’s responsibility as defined in Health and Safety regulations introduced in 1992. These regulations, with regard to Display Screen Equipment, were introduced to improve conditions for employees who work with Visual Display Units (VDUs) and / or PC screens.

Your company is obliged to provide the following for employees who regularly use VDU or PC screens whilst at work:

  • An initial eye examination and subsequent examinations at regular intervals (normally every 2 years)
  • Eye examinations for new employees before they commence working with VDUs / PC Screens
  • Basic spectacles where they are found to be necessary for VDU / PC work

Where use is less continuous or less frequent, other factors connected with the job must be assessed. It will generally be appropriate to classify the person concerned as a user or operator if most or all of the following criteria apply:

  • The individual depends on the use of display screen equipment to do the job, as alternative means are not readily available for achieving the same results
  • The individual has no discretion as to use or non-use of the display screen equipment
  • The individual needs significant training and/or particular skills in the use of display screen equipment to do the job
  • The individual normally uses display screen equipment for continuous spells of an hour or more at a time
  • The individual uses display screen equipment in this way more or less daily
  • Fast transfer of information between the user and screen is an important requirement of the job
  • The performance requirements of the system demand high levels of attention and concentration by the user, for example, where the consequences of error may be critical

Eyecare Vouchers

Optical Revolution recommends Eyecare Vouchers as the easiest way to meet an employer’s legal obligations. They are a uniquely tangible way to demonstrate your organisation's compliance with the law, and to show that your organisation is a caring one, which can lead to improved employee loyalty and motivation.

The Eyecare vouchers scheme really could not be simpler to run. Prices have already been negotiated and the logistics tried and tested. Over 4,000 leading organisations throughout the UK have implemented Eyecare Vouchers, yet it's just as easy and cost-effective for smaller companies.

Eyecare Vouchers are exempt from PAYE liability as they do not constitute a benefit in kind. They are free of National Insurance for both employers and employees, and the employer's costs are deductible for Corporation Tax purposes. In addition, VAT is not payable on the purchase of Eyecare Vouchers.

At Optical Revolution we fully participate in the Eyecare Voucher scheme as we believe it is the best way to ensure your organisation meets its Health and Safety obligations. We accept Eye Examination Vouchers and provide a full eye and eyesight examination together with the VDU Certificate of Recommendation by optician with the eye test results. We also accept Corrective Spectacle Vouchers towards the cost of our entire range of glasses.

For further details of the Eyecare voucher scheme and to enrol as an employer visit the Eyecare Voucher web site at www.eyecarevouchers.co.uk.