BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- WalMart has rounded out its health care offering over the past few years with the addition of optical centers to more of its stores.
'Like the in-store clinics housed in many Wal-Mart stores and the $4 generic prescription program in Wal-Mart and Sam's Club pharmacies, the optical division represents Wal-Mart's commitment to saving people money so they can live better, healthier lives,' a spokesman says.
Wal-Mart says its optical division, which has grown nearly a hundredfold since its inception in the early 1990s, is dedicated to being 'the trusted eye health care provider of choice for patients seeking the best value.'
Staffed by 2,500 independent optometrists and more than 13,000 Wal-Mart associates, the optical centers are in about 3,000 Wal-Mart discount stores and Sam's Clubs units in 47 states across the country.
Only Rhode Island, Delaware and Oklahoma do not have WalMart optical centers.
Patients using the vision cen ters are screened for a variety of diseases and conditions of the eye, including glaucoma, cataracts and retinal disorders as well as such systemic diseases as hypertension and diabetes.
In addition, the optometrists examine patients for vision conditions including nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyobia.
Wal-Mart's optical division works with optometry and opticianry associations across the country, industry experts, and Wal-Mart associates to help raise awareness of the importance of having an annual preventive eye health exam.
The optometrists at WalMart's optical centers see a reported 6 million patients a year, and the sales of eyeglasses and contact lenses through the centers make the company the second-largest provider of optical goods in the United States.
The company, which manufactures its own eyeglasses, says that in 2007 alone its optical labs made more than 5 million pairs of eyewear and its vision centers sold more than 9 million boxes of contact lenses from such suppliers as Bausch & Lomb, the Vistakon division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc., CooperVision USA and Ciba Vision Corp.
Wal-Mart says that as more attention is paid to eye health, the role of its optical care centers is taking on greater significance.
Maintaining eye health is important for everyone, from children to senior citizens, executives in the company's health care unit say.
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Citing data from the Vision Council of America, they note that one in three seniors may have a vision problem (including cataracts, glaucoma or mac ular degeneration), while one in four children may have a vision problem, which may negatively affect their performance in school.
The executives stress that if left untreated, eye conditions can lead to serious problems.
For instance, they say, glaucoma, which affects 2.2 million Americans over age 40, is a leading cause of blindness, yet the Vision Council of America estimates that 1.5 million to 2 million people do not even know they have the condition.
'Regular eye checkups are crucial to diagnosing and properly treating this and other conditions,' the company's spokesman points out.
In addition, he says, regular eye exams can detect earlywarning signs of other serious problems, including multiple sclerosis, high cholesterol, cardiovascular problems and diabetes.
It is equally important, WalMart says, for parents to schedule regular eye checkups for their children.
'Healthy vision is necessary in the process of a child's development, performance and growth,' a spokesman says. 'Regular eye exams help by providing an early indication of problems that can impact the health of a child's eyes.'
