About Optometry Courses After Class12th

Optometry is a healthcare profession that focuses on eye care, vision, and visual system. An optometrist is a healthcare professional who is capable of prescribing and dispensing vision correcting lenses, spectacles, diagnosing eye disease, and treating them (to an extent).

This article is formulated to provide detailed information regarding the courses in the field of optometry.

Optometry: Basic Details

As mentioned before, optometry is part of the healthcare profession. This discipline focuses on eye care. An optometrist is a healthcare professional capable of diagnosing eye diseases/vision problems, prescribing lenses/spectacles, performing treatment (in some cases), and referring patients to an Ophthalmologist/relevant Doctor (if required).

Optometry and Ophthalmology deal with eye care, but Ophthalmologists are eye Doctors (specializing in eye care after completing MBBS) On the other hand, optometrists are not considered as eye Doctors!

In India, optometry courses are available in three main formats-

• Certificate Courses
• Diploma Courses
• Bachelor’s Degree Courses

To work as a qualified Optometrist and achieve good career growth, pursuing Bachelor’s Degree courses will be beneficial.

Optometry Courses in India after 12th

B.Optometry - Bachelor of Optometry

Known as Bachelor of Optometry, Bachelor in Optometry, or B.Optom., this is the most popular and valued optometry course available in India.

It is a 4 years long UG Degree course. The academic program is 3 years long. After the academic program has been completed, students have to go through a 1-year long internship program. Only after completing the internship program will one be called a qualified Optometrist!

• B.Optometry Eligibility Criteria:
  The candidate should be at least 17 years of age at the time when the course starts. Candidate should have passed 10+2 Science stream with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English subjects. The minimum aggregate mark required is 45% (may vary from one institute to another).
• Admission process for B.Optometry:
  Admission is based on marks scored by candidates in the board examination and EYELET/ relevant entrance tests. Few institutes also follow the direct admission process.

Note: Students who have completed 2 years long Diploma in Optometry course may secure admission directly in the 2nd year of B.Optom. program.

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B.Sc. in Optometry

It is a 4 years long UG level Bachelor of Science course. The academic program is 3 years long. The academic program is followed by the 1-year long internship program. After completing the academic program, a student must complete the internship program. Only then will one get the Degree and be called a qualified Optometrist.

• B.Sc. in Optometry Eligibility criteria:
  Candidate should have passed 10+2 Science stream with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English subjects. The minimum aggregate mark required is 45% (may vary from one institute to another).
• Admission process for B.Sc. in Optometry:
  Admission is based on marks scored by candidates in board examination and state entrance test/relevant entrance test. Few institutes also follow the direct admission process. Some reputed institutes are known to have their own private entrance exam to select candidates.

Note: Students who have completed 2 years long Diploma in Optometry course may secure admission directly in the 2nd year of B.Sc. Optometry program. This entry is known as the lateral entry.

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Diploma in Optometry

It is 2 years (3 years long in the case of some institutes) long Diploma certificate program. D Opt holders may make use of lateral entry and join the 2nd year of B.Optom. or B.Sc. Optometry courses. Though the D Opt course is job-oriented, pursuing Bachelor’s Degree courses mentioned above will help one climb up the career ladder in a better way!

Many times, this course is also known as the Ophthalmic Technology course.

• Eligibility Criteria:
  The candidate should have passed the 10+2 standard. Few institutes allow admission to 10th passed students too (3 years long course). The minimum aggregate mark required is 45% (may vary from one institute to another).
• Admission Process:
  Admission is based on marks scored by candidates in the board examination. Few institutes also follow the direct admission process.

View More: Diploma in Optometry

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Optometry Certificate Courses

Though certificate courses are not very valuable, they will help one get technical and assistants’ jobs in sectors related to eye care. Typical certificate course lasts for a period of 1 year. 10+2 is the educational qualification required. Many institutes also offer certificate courses to 10th passed students.

Syllabus

Though course content may vary from one format to another, the core subjects remain the same. Let us take a look at some of the important subjects-

• Ocular Anatomy
• Ocular Physiology
• Pharmacology
• Microbiology
• Pathology
• Visual Optics
• Ocular Diseases and Conditions
• Dispensing Optics
• Optometry Instruments
• Contact Lenses
• Community Optometry
• Hospital Training

Note: Most of the subjects mentioned above have both classroom lectures as well as practical lab sessions associated with them. In the case of Bachelor’s Degree programs, the 1-year long internship program is present at the end.

Further Studies and Advanced Courses

Well-known PG courses available after completing Bachelor’s Degree programs are- M.Sc. in Optometry and Master of Optometry. These courses are 2 years long (each). If you are interested in the further advanced course, the Ph.D. program will be of use to you.

Career Prospects and Job Opportunities

Qualified optometrists have diverse job opportunities available in front of them. If one wants to work at Eyecare clinics or ophthalmic departments of hospitals, one may work under Ophthalmologists and assist them. One may carry out an Optometrist practice under a supervised or independent setup.

Another popular career option is opening your own Optical shop. Few other forms of self-employment are- opening lens manufacturing unit or ophthalmic instrument manufacturing unit.

One may also work for established optical shops and firms manufacturing lens and ophthalmic instruments. Optometry professionals can also don marketing roles within the vision care sector. They may market lenses, ophthalmic instruments, etc.

If you are interested in ‘a teaching-related career, you may become an instructor/teacher at optometry training institutes.