Walmart is launching the latest salvo in its battle with Amazon for healthcare supremacy by partnering with eyecare brand Waldo to offer affordable contact lenses enriched with essential vitamins, including B12, “to help refresh and rejuvenate eyes,” according to a Tuesday (July 26) press release.
The partnership follows last week’s announcement by Amazon that it has acquired primary care firm One Medical.
“We are thrilled to partner with Walmart to expand access to affordable eyecare options across the country,” Waldo founder and CEO Ashleigh Hinde said in the press release. “Partnering with Walmart allows us to grow our community and help foster much larger conversation around the importance of eye health and the need for accessible options for eyecare.”
Walmart has more than 3,000 vision centers nationwide, where customers can get prescription eyewear, sunglasses, reading glasses and contact lenses. Walmart Vision Centers across the U.S. include family tables and full-length mirrors, interactive shelves, semi-private spaces and associate consultations.
“Walmart is continuously looking for ways to bring our customers brands they already use and love to our stores, making it even more convenient to prioritize their health during their weekly shopping trips,” Walmart Divisional Merchandising Manager, Specialty Healthcare Tabitha Watkins said in the press release.
Related: Walmart Adds Digital Eyeglass Fitting Company to Stable of AR Try-on Tools
Last month, Walmart acquired California-based tech firm Memomi to bring its virtual optical try-on solution technology in-house. The deal not only allows Walmart to continue offering a shopping feature it has offered since 2019, but also reinforces the retailer’s commitment to frictionless omnichannel optical care.
Walmart described the latest acquisition of an augmented reality (AR) technology business as “the next step” in its journey to offer “personalized, affordable access to optical care,” adding that it is also reflective of its broader strategy to grow its healthcare business via the increased use of data and technology.
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