Are Walmart Vision Centers A Good Choice?
Many people want a convenient and affordable option for their eye and vision care needs. That’s where the Walmart Vision Center comes in.
Walmart has everything from auto to beauty products. So it’s no surprise that the mega-retailer offers glasses and contact lenses. Moreover, they provide eye examinations by licensed optometrists (eye doctors).
Walmart is the fourth largest provider of optical goods (such as glasses and contact lenses) in the United States.But you may be wondering if size matters in your personal eye care. And you may be questioning if using Walmart puts you at risk of budget rate care. The answer may surprise you.
This article discusses what you need to know about the Walmart Vision Center. You will learn about the quality of eye doctors and the services they provide, as well as the prices and quality of their frames and lenses.
Range and Product Quality
The Walmart Vision Center is conveniently located for most people. They have a good selection of glasses at reasonable prices, including a wide variety of glasses and contact lenses. Moreover, these centers are attractively decorated, which may make you more comfortable.
Many people love being able to walk in without an appointment and find popular name brand frames. However you may have difficulty placing special orders for certain items. This includes some brand progressive lenses or high profile brand frames.
Recap
Since Walmart is a discount retailer, they emphasize value for money over high quality. That’s why many of their brands are less popular and some lenses are of lower quality.
Doctor Quality
You do not need to see a private eye doctor to get a complete basic eye examination. Independent optometrists in private practice may charge more than optometrists who work at Walmart. But both provide a complete eye exam to diagnose vision conditions and eye diseases.
Every physician employed or contracted by Walmart is a fully licensed and certified optometrist. Sometimes they are even ophthalmologists .
However, there are some situations when you may want to see your current eye doctor. Having a detailed prescription is one such case. Your current provider knows your history. Plus, you’ve tested (and hopefully approved) their ability to take accurate measurements.
Because health care laws vary from state to state, the way Walmart employs or contracts eye doctors also varies. Some of the doctors at the vision center are technically Walmart employees. But most are independent eye doctors who lease their equipment, staff and office space from Walmart.
Recap
Although the optometry staff at Walmart is by no means lacking in expertise, the turnover rate is high. If you prefer a relationship with your eye doctor, Walmart may not be for you.
Services and Insurance
Some Walmart doctors provide more advanced services, such as treating eye infections or eye diseases. But their main goal is to provide routine eye care. A private eye care practice may be better at treating more complicated eye conditions.
A bigger concern is that Walmart may not take your vision insurance, including Medicaid and Medicare. Some do and some don’t, and many Walmart optometrists work on a cash or credit basis only.
pricing
You might think of Walmart as a leader for low prices. But their prices for lenses and eyeglass frames are often the same as most private practices.
In fact, Walmart once boasted very low contact lens prices. But their prices are only slightly lower compared to private practices or other commercial practices, such as Lenscrafters.
You may be surprised to learn that your private practice doctor may have the same price for contact lenses as Walmart.
Even though glasses at Walmart start as low as $16, you get what you pay for. The high-quality brands at Walmart are usually more expensive than places like Warby Parker, whose products are mostly $95.
Summary
Walmart isn’t just famous for their megastores that carry everything from baby clothes to car tires to medicine. They are also one of the leading retailers of eye care products. Plus, they offer affordable basic eye exams.
The prices and quality of frames and lenses at Walmart’s Vision Center vary greatly. Check out their competitors to see if the price is more affordable before investing in a pair of glasses or contact lenses.
An annual eye exam is one of the most important things you can do to protect your vision and keep your eyes healthy. Keeping your prescription up to date is also important to maintaining clear vision throughout your life.
When it comes to choosing an eye care doctor, do your homework and choose wisely for the best deals and care for your situation.