I'm always intrigued by the non-grocery savings you can find at Walmart stores. So I did some digging (and lots of phone calling) to get the scoop on the Walmart Vision Center, which you can find at more than 2,800 Walmart store locations.
During my research, I found that Walmart stores offers some pretty competitive prices on eye exams (as low as $65) and glasses (as low as $9!). But their eye exam prices can vary quite a bit from store to store — sometimes by as much as $30, as I'll explain.
For more deep dives, check out our posts about Walmart oil changes, Walmart nail salons, and the Walmart pharmacy.
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Can you get a free eye exam at Walmart?
First things first — there's no such thing as a coupon for a free eye exam at Walmart.
The only "free" eye exam you might get is if you work there, as Walmart employees on Reddit have reported that Walmart associates can get an eye exam for just a $4 co-pay (and free glasses or contacts too, up to a $130 value).
However, we sometimes see Walmart coupon deals that will help you save on frames. Sign up for Walmart’s email offers and check the Walmart Vision Center website frequently if you want a better chance at claiming these offers when they pop up.
How much is an eye exam at Walmart without insurance?
I researched the prices in several states and found that the average cost of a basic Walmart eye exam without insurance is $81 — though, you can get exams for as low as $65 at some stores. Eye exam prices can vary from store to store because Walmart hires independent optometrists for each location.
For comparison, most Target optical centers charge between $80 - $85 for an eye exam without insurance, so Walmart is pretty much aligned there. And the average price of an eye exam at Sam’s Club comes in at $85, while Costco's optical center offers them for about $89.50.
Cost of a Walmart Eye Exam Without Insurance
Store Location | Eye Exam Cost | Eye + Contact Lens Exam Cost |
|---|---|---|
Plano, TX | $65 | $85 |
Addison, IL | $65 | $115 |
Columbus, OH | $80 | $125 |
Lakeville, MN | $89 | $119 |
North Bergen, NJ | $90 | $160 |
Lakeland, FL | $95 | $150 |
Average Price: | $81 | $126 |
How to Save on Eye Exams and Glasses at Walmart
Always call a few Walmart stores to find the cheapest price in your area (it can vary).
The cost of an eye exam at Walmart Vision Centers varies from store to store because each doctor sets their own prices. Multiple vision center employees told me that most Walmart locations charge $65, but when I actually called around, I found that the majority of locations charged more.
If you live near more than one Walmart store, it’s worth calling around to find the best price.
KCL TIP: When you call, be sure to ask for their lowest price. One location I spoke with only had doctors available on Mondays and Thursdays, but the Thursday doctor charged $30 more than the Monday doctor at the same location.
Get basic readers on Walmart.com for as low as $2.99 per pair (cheaper than in store).
If you just need basic reading glasses (the kind that don’t require a prescription), order them from Walmart.com instead of going through their vision center. On the website, you can order three pairs of Equate readers for as low as $8.97, which comes out to just $2.99 a pair.
I've found that the price can vary depending on your location, though, so you may see the 3-pack priced at $9.97. Still a good deal to get each pair for $3.32.
You'll get free shipping on your glasses if you’re a Walmart Plus member or if your total order hits $35. In stores, you can find the same readers for about $5 - $10 per pair.
Shop for Walmart frames online or in store to find prices as low as $9.
When you’re looking for inexpensive frames, use the "Sort by" feature on the Walmart Vision site to organize frames by price. Select "Price Low" to see the cheapest frames first. At the time I checked pricing, the cheapest prescription frames available were $9 for the Contour Women's Eyeglasses.
In stores, they also have frames as low as $9.
How to Save on Contacts at Walmart
Buy multiple boxes of contacts on their website and save.
Your best option for buying contacts through Walmart is to order multiple boxes from WalmartContacts.com, where you'll often find online-only offers they don't have in store.
For example, my favorite brand of contacts was $10 off if I purchased multiple boxes online, which made them even cheaper than their price at the in-store Walmart Vision Center. Plus, WalmartContacts.com prices often beat out competitors like America’s Best and Walgreens.
Unfortunately, the Walmart price match policy doesn't cover contacts, so the Walmart price you see online (or in the store) is the best you're going to get.
Get your content lens exam done at your eye doctor's office and order contacts from Walmart instead.
Walmart Vision Center requires a special eye exam if you wear contacts, which costs more than the basic eye exam. (On average, the contact lens exam costs an extra $45.) But, you don’t have to get an eye exam done at the Walmart Vision Center to make a purchase from WalmartContacts.com. All you need is a prescription.
Just upload your prescription at the time you place your contacts order online. If you don’t upload a prescription or fax one in, they'll call your eye doctor and verify the prescription on your behalf.
Get free shipping on any order from Walmart Vision Center and WalmartContacts.com.
If you order through Walmart Vision Center or WalmartContacts.com, all your orders ship for free, with no minimum purchase necessary. They’ll usually take 5 - 7 business days to ship.
Return any unopened contacts to Walmart within 365 days to get a full refund.
Whether you’re ordering from WalmartContacts.com or getting them from Walmart Vision Center, you’ve got a full year to return your Walmart contacts. This is especially handy if your prescription changes and you've stocked up on too many boxes.
Just know that you can only return them within 365 days of purchasing, and the box must be unopened.
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