Every Walmart Supercenter is like a small village, with a grocery store, apparel, eateries, tire, and oil maintenance, and even, in some locations, affordable vision centers.
But just how affordable can you expect your visit to Walmart’s vision center to be? Should you budget hundreds or even thousands? It’s important to know what to expect.
If you have been wondering what are Walmart vision center prices, you have come to the right place. Here are the answers you seek.
Walmart Vision Center Prices
Walmart Vision Center prices start at just $73 for a regular eye exam, though you may pay more for an exam if you wear contacts or have an astigmatism. Frames start at less than $10 but can cost as much as $200. Lenses also range in price, from free with purchase of frames to $135.
Let’s go more into detail about which vision tests cost how much, what you can expect to pay for frames and lenses, and even whether Walmart accepts different types of insurance. Keep reading below for all the information!
How Much Does Walmart Charge For A Vision Test?
If you just need a basic vision check-up to order glasses or contacts, or to get a prescription to order them yourself from another vendor, Walmart makes that affordable.
Private practices can charge hundreds for a basic check-up, but at Walmart, they’re only about $73 (though that base price can vary based on where you are located).
According to the Krazy Koupon Lady, Target tends to cost about $7 more, so if you’re really pinching pennies, Walmart will likely be the cheaper option.
There is one caveat, though: If you wear contact, you will have to get a special vision exam that is more expensive.
The Krazy Koupon Lady reports these are more in the $105 range. And if you happen to have an astigmatism, it can tack on another $20 to the exam.
However, this is for exams where you are paying out of pocket.
So if you do happen to have vision insurance, chances are your appointments will be much cheaper, perhaps even free (especially if you have Medicaid).
How Much Do Glasses Cost At Walmart?
If you weren’t aware, glasses actually consist of two different items: the frames and the lenses.
They are manufactured separately, and they are priced separately, too.
At Walmart, you can find frames for less than $10.
If your budget is a little bit bigger, you can find over 600 different frame styles for less than $100.
Walmart doesn’t have the most expansive selection of designer frames, but you can find some from Marc Jacobs, Ray-Ban, Miu Miu, and Vera Wang.
These are the frames that are most likely to be more than $50, more than $100, and in some cases, as much as $200.
Still, for designer frames, that is remarkably affordable.
Lenses, according to Clark.com, can actually cost nothing – regular clear lenses might be free with the purchase of frames.
However, different treatments to the lenses, like tints that help you see better at night or which reduce daytime glare, can add $20 (basic) or 115 (polarized).
If you want Transition lenses, that will be an additional $135.
How Much Does Walmart Charge For Progressive Lenses?
Progressive lenses, also known as multifocal lenses and “no-line” bifocals, feature multiple fields of vision – prescriptions, really – set in one lens, with no defining lines between.
It’s an awesome bit of optometric technology, that starts around $110 for plastic material at Walmart.
From there, expect to pay $245 or so at the next price jump (for lenses made by big names like Zeiss, Seiko or Nikon).
And then the most expensive kind Walmart offers, high index polycarbonate lenses (no doubt the most durable), which start at $350.
If these prices surprise you, imagine how much they must cost out-of-pocket from a private practice eye doctor.
How Much Are Contacts At Walmart?
As a contact wearer myself, I can attest: I put off buying new contacts every couple of years because it can be so expensive, especially when paying out-of-pocket.
To order contacts when you also need an eye exam to get the prescription, you will have to pay a bit more right off the bat for a vision exam with contacts.
However, if you already have a valid prescription, you can also just order your contacts online through Walmart, at WalmartContacts.com.
Comparing Walmart Contacts to the site I normally use, 1800-Contacts, I can see that Walmart is a bit cheaper than 1800 Contacts’ regular prices.
For example, I wear Biofinity toric lenses for my right eye, which cost $71 at 1800-Contacts. At Walmart Contacts, they’re just $63.
My regular Toric lenses cost $54 regularly at 1-800-Contacts, while they’re just $46 per box at Walmart Contacts.
Just remember, though, that when buying solely online, you can’t use your vision insurance to help pay for the contacts.
But if you go into a Walmart Vision Center and have the appointment covered by insurance, they can bill for your insurance to cover the contact order (at least partially, for most patients).
What Vision Insurance Plans Does Walmart Take?
Walmart makes quality vision care affordable and accessible to everyone, regardless of insurance status, but if you do have coverage, it can make the appointments very low-cost.
Some vision insurances that Walmart accepts include Davis Vision, EyeMed, VSP, Spectra, and Cole Managed Vision.
If you do not have any of these, give your local Walmart Vision Center a call and ask what they accept.
Does Walmart Vision Accept Medicaid?
Many Walmart Vision centers do accept Medicaid, but not all.
It’s always best to give them a call before heading out so that you aren’t stuck paying for the entire appointment when you hadn’t planned to.
If you want to know more about Walmart services, you can also read our related posts on Walmart Vision Center’s return policy, if Walmart repairs glasses, and how long does it take to get glasses from Walmart.
Conclusion
Walmart Vision makes eye exams and vision products like glasses, contacts and progressive lenses affordable to the masses.
Exams start at just $73, though they are slightly more expensive if you’re a contacts wearer.
