Who Makes the Glasses for Wal Mart Vision Centers?

Wal-Mart has become one of the nation's largest suppliers of eyeglasses. Utilizing a network of three optical laboratories, the company produces most of the eye wear prescribed in its Vision Centers.

Laboratory Operations

• Wal-Mart has three optical labs located in Crawfordsville, Indiana; Dallas, Texas; and Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Patient Base

• Providing eye care for more than six million patients on an annual basis, Wal-Mart and Sam's Club's Optical Centers are one of the nation's leading optical enterprises. They offer access to eye care professionals, along with complete eye wear and contact lens product offerings.

High-Volume Operation

• The company's 3,000-plus Vision Center locations are served by Wal-Mart labs, which process more than 100,000 lenses per week and manufacture more than five million pairs of eyeglasses each year.

Other Agreements

• Wal-Mart also works with Essilor of America and Carl Zeiss optical laboratories.

Laboratory Closure

• In March 2009, Wal-Mart closed its fourth lab, which was located in Lockbourne, Ohio. The lab's work was picked up by the other Wal-Mart operations. This cost-cutting effort reportedly eliminated 650 jobs and reduced overall laboratory costs for the company. While it no longer produces eye wear, the location continues to serve as a merchandise distribution center.