Optometry

Overview

Optometry programs teach people to test and treat vision and prescribe corrective lenses. Students learn to examine patients for eye health and vision. They also learn to advise, educate, and refer patients.

Optometry programs include topics such as:

• Inner and outer structures of the eye
• Eye diseases including glaucoma and cataracts
• Patient counseling
• Physician referral
• Practice management
• Ethics and professional standards

Schools

Several universities or specialized schools offer graduate degrees in optometry. Students earn a Doctor of Optometry (OD). This degree usually requires about four years of full-time study beyond a bachelor’s degree.

See schools that offer this program.

Related Educational Programs

• Ophthalmic Laboratory Technology
• Ophthalmic Technology
• Opticianry
• Optometric Technology
• Pre-Health Services
• Vision Science

Related Careers

Careers Directly Related to this Program of Study

• Opticians
• Optometrists

Other Careers Related to this Program of Study

• Family and General Practitioners

Program Admission

You can prepare for this program by taking courses in high school that prepare you for college. This typically includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and two years of science. Some colleges also require two years of a second language.

Below is a list of high school courses that will help prepare you for this program of study:

• Advanced Healthcare Occupations
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Community Health
• Economics
• General Computer Applications
• Health Education
• Healthcare Sciences Work Experience
• Introduction to Business
• Physical Science
• Psychology
• Recordkeeping
• Vision Care Assisting

Graduate Admissions

Admission to optometry programs is competitive. Although many schools do not require you to finish a bachelor's degree, it is strongly preferred. Nearly all of the schools require that you finish at least two years of college. During that time, you need to complete courses in the following areas:

• General Biology with labs
• Calculus
• General Chemistry with labs
• English
• Microbiology with labs
• Organic Chemistry with labs
• General Physics with labs
• Psychology
• Social Sciences
• Statistics

You also must have good grades, letters of recommendation, and good scores on the Optometry Admission Test (OAT). Some schools may also require the following:

• Optometry experience or exposure
• Personal interview

Moreover, many optometrists are self-employed. Because of this, it may help you to take accounting, business management, and computer courses.

Typical Course Work

Graduate Program Courses

This program typically includes courses in the following subjects:

• Binocular Vision and Ocular Motility
• Biochemistry
• Contact Lenses
• General Pharmacology
• Geriatrics
• Human Anatomy
• Immunology
• Neuroanatomy
• Ocular Anatomy and Physiology
• Ocular Pathology
• Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics
• Optics
• Optometry
• Pathology
• Patient Interviewing and Management
• Pediatric Optometry
• Practice Management
• Vision Rehabilitation
• Vision Science
• Vision Testing

Students in optometry programs typically spend their fourth year doing clinical rotations. They're called rotations because you rotate among different externships. The lengths of the externships vary from eight to 16 weeks. Each one gives you valuable hands-on experience, applying what you've learned to different clinical settings. A few examples of possible settings include a private office, a military facility, and a public health clinic.

Things to Know

When you graduate from an accredited optometry degree program, you can apply for a license. You need to pass a state board examination to become licensed to practice in the state where you live.

If you want to focus on a particular field of optometry, you can choose to do a year-long clinical residency after graduating from an optometry program. Examples of possible specializations include pediatric optometry, low vision services (for the visually impaired), and sports vision.

Schools

No information available.