Optometrists, also known as doctors of optometry, or ODs, provide most primary vision care. They examine people’s eyes to diagnose vision problems and eye diseases, and they test patients’ visual acuity, depth and color perception, and ability to focus and coordinate the eyes. Optometrists prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses and provide vision therapy and low‑vision rehabilitation. Optometrists analyze test results and develop a treatment plan. They administer drugs to patients to aid in the diagnosis of vision problems and prescribe drugs to treat some eye diseases. Optometrists often provide preoperative and postoperative care to cataract patients, as well as patients who have had laser vision correction or other eye surgery. They also diagnose conditions due to systemic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure, referring patients to other health practitioners as needed.
Optometrists should not be confused with ophthalmologists or dispensing opticians. Ophthalmologists are physicians who perform eye surgery, and diagnose and treat eye diseases and injuries. Like optometrists, they also examine eyes and prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses. Dispensing opticians fit and adjust eyeglasses and, in some States, may fit contact lenses according to prescriptions written by ophthalmologists or optometrists.
Most optometrists are in general practice. Some specialize in work with the elderly, children, or partially sighted persons who need specialized visual devices. Others develop and implement ways to protect workers’ eyes from on‑the‑job strain or injury. Some specialize in contact lenses, sports vision, or vision therapy. A few teach optometry, perform research, or consult.
Admission Requirements for Doctoral-Level Programs
Undergraduate pre-requisites for graduate-level training in Optometry vary by academic institution, and students interested in the field of Optometry are encouraged to research individual requirements for programs of interest. That said, most programs are quite similar in what they require of their applicants, and for that reason the undergraduate pre-requisites for a representative program are described in the next paragraph. Additional information on this topic may be found at: http://www.aaopt.org/
The requirements for entry into the Doctoral Optometry program at Pennsylvania College of Optometry follow.
Pre-requisite Coursework :
An applicant must have completed a minimum of 90 semester hours or 125 quarter hours of credit from an accredited undergraduate college or university. These credits must include the following pre‑optometry courses completed with a 2.0 (C) or better. An applicant need not have completed all prerequisites prior to filing an application but must be able to complete all outstanding prerequisites prior to enrolling:
Biology, General or Zoology (with labs)-1 year
Chemistry, General (with labs)-1 year
Chemistry, Organic (with labs) -1 year , or
Chemistry Organic - (with lab) -1/2 year and
1/2 year of either Biochemistry or Molecular Biology (lab highly recommended)
English, Composition or Literature-1 year
Mathematics-1 year Calculus highly recommended-1/2 year of Calculus fulfills Math requirement
Microbiology or Bacteriology (with lab) -1/2 year
Physics, General (with labs) -1 year
Psychology-1/2 year
Statistics (Math, Biology, or Psychology) -1/2 year
Additional course work in such areas as Biochemistry, Anatomy, Physiology, Histology, Cell Biology, Genetics, and Experimental and Physiological Psychology is encouraged but not required.
While Biology and Chemistry majors are the largest group of applicants, students in any major may be considered provided the above requirements are met.
One final comment: While all courses must be completed with a 2.0 or better, The range of the average grade point (GPA) for the 2003 entering class at all sixteen optometry schools was 3.20 to 3.66, indicating a much stronger performance on the part of successful applicants.
The OAT (Optometry Admission Test)
All schools and colleges of optometry require the Optometry Admission Test (OAT) which is a traditional paper‑based exam. The test is offered in the Fall and Spring of each year and must be taken no later than the Fall of the year preceding the intended date of registration in a school of optometry. Students are advised to take the test immediately after completion of the required basic courses in chemistry, biology, and physics. Students are also advised to take the OAT at an early stage in their academic career and plan to retake the test to improve scores. Many students take the OAT their Junior year.
The OAT tests the following: reading comprehension, quantitative reasoning, biology, chemistry (both organic and general) and physics. The OAT candidate guide information booklet and test application, available online, describes the test, application procedures, and test dates in more detail. It may be obtained through this physical address:
Optometry Admission Testing Program
211 East Chicago Avenue, 6th Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60611-2678
(800) 232-2159
The Test dates for 2004-2005 are: October 16, 2004; February 5, 2005 and October 15, 2005.
An Overview of Graduate-Level Training in the Field of OT
Graduate-Level training in the field of optometry varies by institution and students interested in the field are encouraged to research the programs to which they may want to apply. In the case of Pennsylvania College of Optometry, the representative institution referred to in this document, graduate training and licensure has undergone significant revision in tha last few years. It now involves the interdisciplinary integration of basic and clinical courses using a module approach; the immediate introduction of clinical concepts and skills; the expedited entry into patient care experiences; and a significantly expanded clinical training program. During the first 2½ years, students spend less time in traditional classroom and laboratory settings so that they can experience more independent, case‑based, small group activities. In addition, students have new and early involvement in a variety of community‑based patient care settings. In this redesigned curriculum model, all course work is completed in 2½ years, thereby allowing for 1½ years of off‑campus externships in a variety of private practice, hospital and group practice. Detailed information regarding specific coursework may be found at: http://www.pco.edu/acad_progs/Optometry/curriculum/curr_overview1.htm
