‘Oklahomans pay far too much for eyewear’ – Theme pressed by New Ad & website for YES on 793

Oklahoma families deserve to know how much more they’re paying for glasses compared to families just a few miles away who can buy frames at their neighborhood Walmart, Target or another retail establishment,” Yes on 793 Chairman Tim Tippit said.
“We hope this gives a voice to families in our state who are struggling to get the glasses they need because of the unnecessarily high costs of vision care in Oklahoma. It shows how important it is to vote ‘Yes’ on State Question 793 on Election Day so we can increase competition and bring down the cost of vision care for all Oklahomans.”

According to a press release, the new Yes on 793 ad is based the recent research conducted by RetailData, an omnichannel pricing intelligence agency.
As reported previously at CapitolBeatOK.com
(https://capitolbeatok.worldsecuresystems.com/reports/prices-for-glasses-far-higher-in-oklahoma-than-in-neighboring-states-retaildata-analysis-finds), RetailData found that Oklahoma patients are paying nearly 20 percent more for children’s eyewear and 15 percent more for adult eyewear by obtaining prices from 8-12 traditional optometrists for a variety of identical eyeglass frames offered in Tulsa, Stillwater and Lawton versus those offered by traditional optometrists in the nearby out-of-state markets of Wichita, Kan.; Fayetteville, Ark.; and Wichita Falls, TX.

When looking the price of children’s eyewear at large retailers in Wichita, Fayetteville and Wichita Falls compared to the traditional optometrists in Oklahoma, the average opening price in the Oklahoma markets studied ($72.02) was nearly 150 percent higher than the average opening price in neighboring markets ($29.05). Additionally, the analysis found:

* Prices for children’s frames at large retailers in Wichita, Kan., ($37.08) cost about half of what they do at traditional optometrists in Stillwater ($70.86).

* In Fayetteville, Ark., prices for children’s frames at large retailers ($25.74) are a fraction of what families pay at traditional optometrists in Tulsa ($72.72).

* Lawton families visiting traditional optometrists pay nearly three times as much ($72.49) than those in Wichita Falls, TX, ($24.33) for the same quality eye care at large retailers.

Prices for adult frames were also more expensive among traditional optometrists in Oklahoma compared to traditional optometrists in neighboring markets.

* Across all brands examined, the regular sale price in each of the three Oklahoma markets examined was higher than any of those in three markets in neighboring states.

* In Lawton, for example, patients pay $283.88 for Coach HC6065 5287 51 eyeglasses — more than 30 percent higher than the average price in neighboring markets.

* Oklahoma patients purchasing Kate Spade Cortina Eyeglasses pay more than $52 on average compared to patients in neighboring markets.

* Even for a more affordable brand such as Stetson, Oklahoma patients still pay nearly 20 percent more on average than the average regular sale price in the neighboring markets.

Current Oklahoma law prohibits optometrists from practicing in retail settings such as Walmart, Sam’s Club, Target and Costco. 
The proposition is the only citizen initiative that qualified for the November ballot, which features several legislatively-referred propositions.

State Question 793 — if approved in the voting that began on Thursday and ends on Tuesday (November 6) — would (in the words of the campaign’s recent press release), “allow Oklahomans to receive eye exams and purchase eyewear in these and other retail locations, offering Oklahoma patients the same affordable and convenient vision care that patients in 47 other states currently enjoy.