Walmart and Optometrists Agree On New State Bill

Walmart clashed with optometrists in Oklahoma over proposed legislation last year, but a new bill has the support of both sides.

KGOU reports that Senate Bill 100 would allow “chains like Walmart and Target to sell eyewear and allow optometrists to lease office space in the stores.” Oklahoma and Rhode Island are the only two states that ban such practices, according to the news outlet.

The Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians and Walmart stand behind the bill.

That’s despite the fact that the optometric association opposed a similar bill that Oklahoma voters rejected in November.

“We decided to develop some legislation that would protect patients and that would require optometrists no matter where they practice, be independent practitioners, that they would not be employees of any retailer, possibly within a retail setting,” said Joel Robison, executive director of the state optometric association, according to KGOU.

Retailers wouldn’t have control over any aspect of the eye exam, he said.

Read more at KGOU