Walmart Visions Centres get some bad reviews.

Many have no full-time doctors. They bring in part time people as needed.

But glasses are incredibly overpriced. The Italian firm Luxottica, controls a big chunk of the market. Lack of competition means poor value for the consumer.

I’ve been shopping Walmart for at least 8 years. No complaints. In 2011 my eyes had deteriorated to the point where I finally tried progressive lenses. $500 at Walmart with every possible markup option.

Many people can’t get used to Progressive spectacle lenses, also called no-line bifocals, progressive addition lenses (PAL), progressive power lenses, graduated prescription lenses, and varifocal or multifocal lenses

I was still wearing them 4 years later. But despite anti-scratch coating, they were too scratched for me. I recently booked a check-up at Walmart. $70 or thereabouts.

Surprisingly my prescription had not much changed. I took advantage of their 2-for-1 promotion to order two new pairs: 1) single vision $105 and 2) progressive $200 (zero add-ons).

On picking them up I instantly found I LOVED the progressives. LOVED them so much that I went back next day and ordered 2 more pairs ($200ea on the 2-for-1).

Yep. I now have 3 new progressive pairs. My old progressives (for hiking). And the single vision. Those are not likely to get used.