American workers are spending too much time looking at screens.
As a result, symptoms of "excessive screen time," or more than seven hours of screen time a day, are costing the U.S. $73 billion per year, the report said.
The figure was determined by analyzing the direct financial costs incurred by health systems, the symptoms' impact on productivity at work, and their perceived impact on an individual's well-being.
Just two hours of screen time per day can induce these symptoms, and if left untreated, the study found they can "lead to decreased productivity, exacerbate other undiagnosed eye conditions and may affect an individual's sleep quality and mental health."
The study found that people with excessive screen time exposure could save as much as $1,920 per person by seeing an optometrist and managing their symptoms.
Persons:
Ronald Benner
Organizations:
Deloitte Economics Institute, American Optometric Association, U.S
Locations:
U.S