Frequently Asked Questions
Optometry as a Career
Where to Study Optometry
How to Get into Optometry
School
Optometry Admission Test (OAT)
During Optometry School
After Optometry School
Optometry
as a Career
What is a Doctor of Optometry?
The American Optometric Association defines Doctor of Optometry as the primary health care professionals for the eye. Optometrists examine, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases, injuries, and disorders of the visual system, the eye, and associated structures as well as identify related systemic conditions affecting the eye. Doctors of Optometry prescribe medications, low vision rehabilitation, vision therapy, spectacle lenses, contact lenses, and perform certain surgical procedures.
Optometrists counsel their patients regarding surgical and non-surgical options that meet their visual needs related to their occupations, avocations, and lifestyle.
What do Doctors of Optometry
do?
Optometrists perform comprehensive examinations of both the internal and
external structures of the eye, carry out subjective and objective tests to
evaluate patients' vision, analyze the test findings, establish a diagnosis,
and determine the appropriate treatment. Optometrists treat a variety of conditions
and illnesses. They treat eye diseases such as glaucoma and ulcers; visual skill
problems such as the inability to move, align, fixate and focus the eye; and
clarity problems such as simple near or farsightedness or complications due
to the aging process, disease, accident, or malfunction.
Additionally, optometrists
diagnose, manage, and refer systemic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes,
and others that are often first detected in the eye; provide pre- and post-
surgical care for cataracts, refractive laser treatment, retinal problems, and
other conditions; and encourage preventative measures such as monitoring infants'
and children's visual development, evaluating job/school/hobby related tasks,
and promoting nutrition and hygiene education.
The day-to-day tasks
of most Doctors of Optometry can be quite varied and challenging. Patient interaction
can range from performing routine visual exams, removing a foreign body from
the cornea, evaluating a child who is not performing well in school, managing
the care of contact lens patients, prescribing medication for glaucoma, providing
follow-up care after refractive surgery, and fitting a legally blind patient
with a magnifying device that will enable the patient to read.
Do all Doctors of Optometry
do the same thing?
All optometrists provide general eye and vision care. Some optometrists work
in a general practice, and other optometrists work in a more specialized practice
such as contact lenses, geriatrics, low vision services (for visually impaired
patients), occupational vision (to protect and preserve workers' vision and
minimize eye strain), pediatrics, sports vision or vision therapy. Others may
choose to enter optometric education and/or perform scientific research.
Where do Doctors of
Optometry practice?
They practice in rural communities, suburban areas, and large cities. Some
practice alone, with a partner or partners, or with other health care professionals,
while others choose a career in the military, public health, or other government
service. Still others may practice at hospitals, clinics, teaching institutions,
and community health centers, or they may choose to be employed by another optometrist,
or in the ophthalmic industry.
Is there a demand for
Doctors of Optometry?
Yes. All areas of the country need optometrists to serve a population which
is increasingly aware of the importance of prevention and proper health care,
and which requires the services of optometrists now more than ever. In addition,
the aging population of the U.S. will create an increased demand for vision
care services in the next several decades. Optometrists are also needed to fill
vacancies created through retirement. Currently, there are approximately 30,000
optometrists involved in direct patient care, practicing in about 7,100 communities
across the nation. Seventy percent of the eye care market is delivered by Doctors
of Optometry.
Is optometry a rewarding
career?
Yes. Optometrists have the satisfaction of helping their patients care for
the most highly valued human sense - sight. Doctors of Optometry are recognized
as leaders in their communities. Most are self-employed, receive relatively
few emergency calls, and can establish a flexible working schedule, which allows
them the luxury of combining a prestigious professional career with a very satisfying
personal life. Optometry is also rated as one of the top ten income-earning
professions in the country (USA TODAY, Gates).
According to the Jobs
Rated Almanac (2002), which ranked the best jobs in the country according to
income, stress, physical demands, potential growth, job security and work environment,
optometry ranked thirtieth out of 250 of the top rated jobs. According to
the 2005 American Optometric Association Economic Survey, the average net income
for optometrists was $148,923.
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Where
to Study Optometry
Where can I go to school
to study optometry?
There are 17 schools and colleges of optometry - 16 are in the continental
United States, and one is in Puerto Rico. Click here
to view a list of the schools and colleges of optometry.
How do I know which
is the best school or college of optometry for me?
All 17 schools and colleges of optometry in the United States and Puerto
Rico are accredited under the strict guidelines developed by the
Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) (243 N. Lindbergh
Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63141; 1-800-365-2219) and therefore meet the
educational requirements for license eligibility in any state. (Note:
two Canadian schools of optometry - the University of Waterloo and the
University of Montreal - are also recognized by ACOE). ACOE is
recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council on Higher
Education Accreditation as the accrediting body for optometric
educational programs.
ASCO advises students
against relying on any rankings of the schools in making their decisions. There
are numerous factors that enter into a successful match between a student and
an optometry school: the size of the school, its location and reduced costs
of some schools based on contracts with certain states. ASCO recommends that
applicants review the merits of the school(s) or college(s) they might wish
to attend and determine which institution will best meet their individual needs.
ASCO strongly advises students, if possible, to visit schools in which they
have a particular interest.
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How to
Get into Optometry School
What type of education
is required to become a Doctor of Optometry?
Doctors of Optometry must successfully complete a four-year accredited degree
program at one of the schools or colleges of optometry. Most students accepted
by a school or college of optometry have completed an undergraduate degree.
However, each institution has is own undergraduate prerequisites, so applicants
should contact the school or college of their choice for specific requirements.
What undergraduate courses
should I take to help prepare me for optometry school?
The requirements for admission to the schools and colleges of optometry vary,
but students wishing to study optometry should be certain to take at least a
year of biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, general physics, and microbiology;
English; college mathematics; and other social science and humanities courses.
The science courses should be pre-professional level courses designed for science
majors or health professional students and should offer laboratory experience.
Brief survey courses in the sciences will not prepare you for optometry school.
Be sure to consult with the pre-optometry advisor at your school or an advisor
at the school or college of optometry that you plan to attend.
[ Click here to view links to the Academic
Advisor information.]
What kind of curriculum
should I follow?
Use the following sample undergraduate curriculum only as a guide. Not all
the courses listed below may be required by all schools, and some schools may
require other courses not included in this sample.
Freshman Year (Total
Hours: 30)
- General Chemistry
with labs
- College Algebra
- Trigonometry
- English
- General Biology with
labs
Sophomore Year (Total
Hours: 30)
- Organic Chemistry
- Microbiology or Bacteriology
with lab
- Calculus
- Physics
- Psychology
- Statistics
Junior Year (Total Hours:
30)
- Physiology
- Biochemistry
- Anatomy
- History
- Speech
- Social Science
- Other humanities
What do I have to do
to apply for admission to optometry school?
Since each optometry school may have slightly different admissions criteria,
applicants should contact each school and/or college to which they are interested
in applying. Most optometry schools and colleges require applicants to complete
an application, write a personal essay; submit transcripts from colleges attended
by the applicant; take the Optometry Admission Test (OAT) and submit scores;
provide letters of recommendation; participate in a personal interview; and
demonstrate experience or exposure to the field of optometry.
Click here for information about the Optometry Admission
Test (OAT).
When
must I apply to optometry school?
Early applications are desirable, and deadlines range from December to April
1 for the various schools and colleges of optometry. Contact the school(s) or
college(s) of your choice to obtain application instructions and forms.
Click here for a list of schools and college of
optometry and contact information.
What type of selection
procedures are used to evaluate applicants?
Generally, colleges of optometry admit students who have demonstrated strong
academic commitment and who exhibit the potential to excel in deductive reasoning,
interpersonal communication, and empathy. Potential optometry students may be
evaluated on the basis of grade point average, performance on the Optometry
Admission Test (OAT), extra curricular and community activities, personal interview,
professional potential, etc.
Optometry schools are
looking for "well-rounded" candidates who have achieved not only in the classroom
but also in other areas. Leadership ability, a disposition to serve others,
and a work ethic characterized by dedication and persistence are just a few
of the qualities that impress most admission committees.
Each institution has
its own criteria; therefore, you should contact the school(s) or college(s)
of your choice to obtain a copy of its catalog and specific application guidelines.
Click here for a list of schools and college of
optometry and contact information.
What are the academic
and demographic characteristics of recent applicants and admitted students?
Click here to view the Student Profile
page, which includes information on applicants, admitted students and recent
graduates of optometry.
As a graduate of a foreign
school/college, how do I become eligible to practice in optometry in the United
States?
To be eligible to take the National Board of Optometry Examination and all
state licensure examinations, you must have graduated from one of the seventeen
schools/colleges of optometry in the United States that are accredited by the
Council on Optometric Education. For further information, contact the National Board of Optometry at www.optometry.org
Option 1
Of the seventeen
schools/colleges of optometry, the following will award an O.D. degree to graduates
of foreign schools upon completion of a special program:
- The New England College
of Optometry
- Pennsylvania College
of Optometry
- Pacific University,
College of Optometry
Option 2
Of the seventeen schools/colleges of optometry, the following will admit graduates
of foreign schools to their programs with advanced standing:
- Illinois College
of Optometry
- The New England College
of Optometry
- Pennsylvania College
of Optometry
- State University
of New York, State College of Optometry
- University of Houston,
College of Optometry
More information may
be obtained directly from the individual institutions listed above. Click
here for a list of schools and college of optometry and contact information.
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Optometry Admission Test (OAT)
What is the Optometry
Admissions Test?
The Optometry Admission Test (OAT) is a standardized examination designed
to measure general academic ability and comprehension of scientific information.
The OAT is sponsored by the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry
(ASCO) for applicants seeking admission to an optometry program. All schools
and colleges of optometry in the United States, and the University of Waterloo, Canada require the OAT.
Click here for information about the Optometry Admission
Test (OAT).
Click here to register online for the Optometry Admission Test (OAT).
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During
Optometry School
How much will optometry school cost?
The cost of your education will depend upon where you choose to attend school. Annual tuition and fees at public schools and colleges of optometry range from approximately $10,670 to $18,655 for residents. Non-resident costs range anywhere from $22,420 to $43,374 a year. Resident tuition and fees for private schools and colleges of optometry range from approximately $14,950 to $29,088 a year, while non-resident costs range from $19,950 to around $29,088. Many of the schools and colleges of optometry have financial arrangements or contract programs which allow students from various states to attend their institution at the resident rate. Contact the admissions officer at the school(s) or college(s) of your choice for specific tuition and fee information.
What if I need financial assistance to fund my education?
Financial aid, primarily in the form of government-subsidized, low interest loans, is available to students attending schools and colleges of optometry. Other loans, grants and work study aid are available, and vary from one institution to another. For details, contact the financial aid officer at the school(s) or college(s) of your choice.
For links to financial aid related sites click here.
What about housing while I'm in optometry school?
Most of the schools and colleges of optometry offer college-operated housing. Contact the school(s) or college(s) of your choice to obtain a catalog and other information for the prospective student.
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After
Optometry School
What
is the profile of the recent graduating class?
Click here to view the Student Profile
Page, which includes information about recent number of graduates and demographics.
What happens after I
graduate from optometry school?
In order to practice optometry, you must be state licensed. All states require
graduation from an accredited professional optometric degree program as a prerequisite
for licensure.
What kind of exam is
involved in licensure?
The licensure examination consists of both clinical and written parts. In
most states the written examination has been replaced with the examinations
which are given during the student's academic career by the National Board of
Examiners in Optometry (NBEO).
Click here to link to
the NBEO Web Site.
Once
I've graduated, how do I keep up with new developments in the profession?
Doctors of Optometry recognize that continued professional education is a
life-long responsibility in order to maintain the full scope of optometric services
for the benefit of the patient. All fifty states and the District of Columbia
require Doctors of Optometry to take continuing education courses to be eligible
for license renewal. Such educational programs are readily available throughout
the country.
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