Career Option in Optometry

An optometrist is concerned with the examination, diagnosis and treatment of the eyes. Optometry is a Greek term where “Opto” means eye/vision and “Metry” is measurement, Optometry deals mainly with measurement of eyes. It is defined as a science associated with structure, working and function of the human eye.

Education Details & Eligibility:

Eligibility:

The student who has cleared 10+2 or equivalent examination, with a minimum of 50% marks in physics, chemistry and biology are eligible for Optometry. In order to practice as an Optometrist, the candidate has to take Bachelor's degree in Optometry.
The age limit is 17 years as on 31st December. The candidate fulfilling given requirements have to appear for the EYECET examination, which is the centralized, combined, entrance test for entry into optometry course and is universally recognized all over the country.

Course Duration:

The duration of this course is 4 years. The first 3 years’ teaching is followed by one year of internship for clinical and trade experience. Courses in pharmacology, optics, vision science, biochemistry, and systemic disease are included in the curriculum. The students also go for practical training in Basic Science, Dispensing Optics and Clinical subjects. The fourth and final year is internship where the students are posted at various hospitals for practical training.

Higher education:

After completing the undergraduate degree, students can pursue their higher education as follows.

M.Phil - It is available in India. Students completing their U.G can apply for M.Phil directly. It is a 2 year degree course where they will learn about basic research and carry on research activities.
MS - Students will learn about basic research and take up research activities during this 2 year course.
Ph.D. / Doctorate - Minimum of 3 years duration
Post Doctoral Fellowship - 1 year course after Ph.D.

Approximate Education Expenses:

On an average, Rs 35,000 to 45,000 per year depending on the institutions, but students can get educational loans from all banks to study this course.

There are many colleges offering this course in India and abroad. For details on colleges offering this course please visit www.StudyGuideIndia.com.

Every third blind person in the world is an Indian and millions of others suffer from various eye diseases which can be cured/ prevented if diagnosed early. There are people amongst us who want that everyone in the world should appreciate the creations of God on earth. The career of optometrist is right for anyone who wants to serve people in this direction by helping them regain good eyesight. India requires more than 2 lakh optometrists at present to tackle this avoidable blindness but we have about 2,000 only. Hence this profession has a huge need in India. People with human compassion and service mentality will suit this profession best.

Optometrist can run a separate clinic with optical showroom or work in an eye hospital as an Optometrist/ Researcher. Optometrist can teach in Optometry colleges, work in corporate sectors, MNCs, contact lens and spectacle lens manufacturing units.

• Prescribe glasses for refractive errors
• Diagnose eye diseases
• Fit, dispense and prescribe contact lenses
• Provide vision therapy, Amblyopia therapy and Orthoptics (eye exercises for binocular vision anomalies)
• Low vision aids and rehabilitation for visually impaired
• Pediatric optometry (visual testing for infants)
• Geriatric optometry: Eye examination for elderly people.
• Community optometry: Reach out to rural communities through camps.

Teach and also do procedures like

• Perimetry, Ultrasound - biometry
• Ultrasonography
• Ultrasound biomicroscopy
• Heidelberg Retinal Tomography
• Fundus photography
• Corneal topography
• Wave front analyzer
• Specular microscopy
• Pachymetry
• Electro diagnostics
• Glaucoma Diagnostics
• Optical Coherence Tomography - Anterior and Posterior

A fresher can earn Rs 10,000 to 25,000 approximately and increases with experience and knowledge.

The forums for optometry are:

Web site link: www.optometry.net