The big question on many people’s minds these days is “Will Walmart put old lenses in new frames?” If you’re like most consumers, the thought of spending more money on their contact lenses than you have to is not something that comes easy to you. Especially after seeing how large of a mark up eye doctor gets when they replace contact lenses with a new model. So what exactly does Walmart plan to do?
Currently, Walmart will not be carrying any new lenses through their doors. Instead, they will be carrying the brands that they already carry. That means that they cannot legally charge you for lenses that you can purchase elsewhere at a better price. This also means that they will not be able to charge you extra for lenses that your eyes need to be cleaned and disinfected with. The company hopes to expand their selection if they do decide to add lenses, but for the time being, customers will just have to buy what they already have and save money in the meantime.
You should know, though, that the lenses that you currently have will not be getting thrown out. Instead, you will likely just be getting a refund. It would be wise, however, to discard any lenses that are stained or have other problems that will require you to buy new lenses. If you are interested in buying some lenses, visit your local Walmart or select their outlet stores beginning in January. This will give you plenty of time to shop around and find the best prices on the contacts you want. You may even be able to get some coupons to use when you make your purchase.
The company is not saying when they will be adding new lenses into their inventory. However, it is safe to assume that it will happen sooner rather than later. If you currently only use one brand of contact lens and suddenly realize that the lens you are using no longer fits, you will probably have to buy a new pair. Walmart will likely try to stay one step ahead of their competitors by quickly manufacturing replacement lenses for the lenses you already have.
You may not be able to purchase brand new contact lenses from Walmart when you need a few pairs. They will most likely have the style and size of the lens that you need, which will be enough for you to continue using your current lenses until your prescription changes. Once you switch prescription lenses, however, you will need to go back to the store where you bought your original lenses in order to find a compatible pair of contact lenses.
Since ordering lenses online can be very confusing, you will want to make sure you take some time to learn how to order your lenses. On the plus side, Walmart has some excellent customer service professionals who will be glad to help you choose the perfect pair of contact lenses. They will also gladly send you the new lenses via regular mail, so you do not have to worry about paying extra for the shipping. Your old lenses will simply be disposed of, but you will want to keep track of when you will need to order new lenses so you do not forget about them. Walmart will probably put all of your disposable lenses in new frames and then send you the full package of the new lens so you do not have to worry about this.