Optometry
Optometry is the health profession specifically devoted to the care of human vision. The practice of optometry brings together knowledge from a number of sciences including anatomy, biology, chemistry, neurology, optics, pathology, physics, physiology, and psychology. The Doctor of Optometry (OD) is specifically concerned with the treatment of eye problems with visual exercises, eyeglasses, and contact lenses. Drugs or surgery are not utilized by the OD for correction of eye disorders, although some states now provide for some limited prescriptions by ODs.
Other professions in the eye care area include the ophthalmologist, who is an MD. The ophthalmologist can prescribe drugs and perform surgery, as well as other diagnostic and treatment procedures normally under the purview of a physician. The optician, on the other hand, is a professional who grinds lenses and fits then into frames and then fits frames to the wearer.
Depending on location and the type of practice, there is considerable overlap between these optical care professionals. The ophthalmologist has the most latitude in terms of the types of treatments that may be done as well as dealing with more serious medical problems in the eye. On the other hand, the optometrist, in addition to prescribing lenses for the patient, may also be involved in fitting frames to the patient. A practice in a small town will tend to involve a broader range of activities for both optometrist and ophthalmologist. A practice in a large city will tend to be more specialized, with eyeglass-fitting probably being handled by an optician.
Qualification for Application
A pre-optometric program of study can be carried out at Idaho State University. Many of the course requirements are similar to those in a premedical program. Courses required by all optometry schools are the following:
| BIOL 101, 102 | Biology I, II | 8 credits |
| CHEM 111, 112 | General Chemistry | 9 credits |
| CHEM 301, 302, 303, 304 | Organic Chemistry | 8 credits |
| PHYS 111, 112, 113, 114 | General Physics | 8 credits |
| ENGL 101 | English Composition | 3 credits |
| MATH 147 | Pre-calculus | 5 credits |
| MATH 160 | Brief Calculus | 4 credits |
Other courses required by some schools of optometry are general psychology, analytical geometry, microbiology, anatomy and physiology, and a year or more of social sciences. Be aware that the Optometry Admission Test (OAT) has a section on organic chemistry. It is necessary for the prospective optometry student to obtain information about the specific optometry school by obtaining a copy of the booklet, Optometry: A Career with Vision, from the American Optometric Association (available free of charge. See the OTHER INFORMATION section of this page for ordering information). Most optometry schools require a minimum of two years of pre-optometry academic work, while some require a minimum of three years. In actual practice, most admitted students have four or more years of college work; some optometry schools now require an undergraduate degree for admission.
While not always formally stated as a selection criterion, candidates for optometry school are encouraged to obtain some exposure to the field of optometry by observing in the office of an optometrist on a regularly scheduled basis for a period of time. Such exposure documents the applicant's interest in optometry and facilitates a self-evaluation of the student's interest in optometry.
National Standardized Test - Optometry Admission Test (OAT)
Each optometry school requires that the applicant take the standardized pre-admission test (OAT). The OAT is normally administered in February and October of each year. Many optometry schools require the applicant to take the OAT no later than October of the calendar year of expected entry into optometry school. Some schools will accept OAT scores from the examination administered in February of the same calendar year as the expected entry (not recommended to be this later, however). The OAT consists of sections on biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, reading comprehension, and quantitative ability. Scores are reported as standardized scores ranging from 200 to 400 in intervals of 10. A standardized score of 300 represents the 50th percentile of persons who have taken OAT.
Normally, applications for taking the OAT must be submitted at least one month before the administration date. Application blanks may be obtained from the Counseling and Testing Center at ISU, or by writing to the following address.
Optometry Admission Testing Program
211 East Chicago Avenue, Suite 1840
Chicago, Illinois 60611-2678
Phone (312) 440-2693
ISU is a test center for the OAT. See the Chair of the ISU Health Professions Advisory Committee for more information.
Information on ordering materials to prepare for the OAT may be found at www.oatprofessor.com or at www.kaptest.com .
Application Service
Colleges of optometry do not utilize a centralized application service. Prospective applicants should write to each individual school do obtain the application.
Application Procedure
Deadlines for application to optometry schools vary somewhat. Some schools have application deadlines as late as April 15 prior to the beginning of school in September. The earliest date that applications can be submitted is generally September 1, but that also varies with the school. The applicant should write to each school of interest at least one full year prior to the time expected to enter the program. Such timelines will avoid any possibility of missing deadlines. Students are strongly urged to APPLY EARLY in order to increase their chance of acceptance.
Interviews with Colleges of Optometry
Personal interviews are a requirement of most, but not all, colleges of optometry. The applicant must get specific information regarding this requirement from the individual school.
Reciprocal Agreements
Optometry is one of the health professional fields included in the WICHE agreement between the western states. Idaho has actively supported this program by partial funding of optometry students attending WICHE optometry schools. See the Chair of the ISU Health Professions Advisory Committee for WICHE addresses, phone numbers, and deadlines. You may also access the following web sites: www.wiche.edu/sep for the main WICHE office and email at Lhumphre@osbe.state.id.us for the Idaho WICHE office.
Acceptance to Colleges of Optometry
Notifications of acceptance to colleges of optometry are usually in late spring or early summer prior to the beginning of school in the fall.
Acceptance Information
ISU students have been admitted to the following optometry schools.
Illinois College of Optometry, Chicago, IL
Indiana University School of Optometry, Bloomington, IN
*Pacific University College of Optometry, Forest Grove, OR
*Southern California College of Optometry, Fullerton, CA
Southern College of Optometry, Memphis, TN*WICHE Schools
Other Information
The prospective optometry student is urged to obtain information from as many sources as possible. One very good booklet which contains descriptions of each optometry school in the U.S. is Optometry: A Career With Vision available FREE OF CHARGE through the American Optometric Association (AOA). the AOA is the professional organization of optometrists and is probably the prime source of information for the preoptomery student. Addresses of optometry organizations are the following:
American Optometric Association (AOA)
243 North Lindberg Boulevard
St. Louis, Missouri 63141
Phone (314) 991-4100
Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO)
6110 Executive Boulevard, Suite 510
Rockville, Maryland 20852
Phone (301) 231-5944
http://www.opted.org
At present, there are 17 schools of optometry in the US. Home pages on the internet for each school may be accessed by first going to the home page for the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO). Addresses to write concerning specific requirements of those programs are the following:
| School of Optometry/The Medical Center | New England College of Optometry |
| University of Alabama in Birmingham | 424 Beacon Street |
| UAB Station | Boston, MA 02115 |
| Birmingham, AL 35294 | (617) 236-6207 |
| School of Optometry | College of Optometry |
| 381 Minor Hall | Northeastern State University |
| University of California-Berkeley | Tahlequa, Oklahoma 74464 |
| Berkeley, CA 94720 | (918) 454-6551 |
| (510) 642-9537 | |
| College of Optometry | College of Optometry |
| Ferris State College | Ohio State University |
| Big Rapids, Michigan 49307 | 338 West Tenth Avenue |
| (616) 592-3703 | Columbus, Ohio 43210 |
| (614) 292-2647 | |
| College of Optometry | College of Optometry |
| University of Houston | Pacific University |
| 4800 Calhoun Blvd. | 2043 College Way |
| Houston, TX 77004 | Forest Grove, Oregon 97116 |
| (713) 749-3361 | (503) 359-2218 |
| 1-800-635-0561 | |
| Illinois College of Optometry | Pennsylvania College of Optometry |
| 3241 South Michigan Avenue | 1200 West Godfrey Avenue |
| Chicago, Illinois 60616 | Philadelphia, PA 19141 |
| (312) 225-1700 | (215) 276-6262 |
| Toll Free (800) 39702424 | |
| School of Optometry | College of Optometry |
| Indiana University | Southeastern University |
| 800 East Atwater Avenue | 1750 N.E. 168th Street |
| Bloomington, Indiana 47405 | North Miami Beach, FL 33162-3097 |
| (812) 855-1917 | (305) 949-4000 |
| School of Optometry | Southern California College of Optometry |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico | |
| P.O. Box 1293 | 2575 Yorba Linda Boulevard |
| San Juan, PR 00919 | Fullerton, CA 92631 |
| (809) 854-6690 | (714) 449-7445 |
| 1-800-829-9949 | |
| School of Optometry | Southern College of Optometry |
| University of Missouri-St. Louis | 1245 Madison Avenue |
| 8001 Natural Bridge Road | Memphis, TN 38104 |
| St. Louis, Missouri 63121 | (901) 722-3225 |
| (314) 553-6263 | (800) 838-0180 |
| (314) 553-5606 | |
| State College of Optometry | College of Optometry |
| State University of New York | Nova Southeastern University |
| 100 East 24th Street | 3200 South University Drive |
| New York, NY 10010 | Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33328 |
Canadian Schools of Optometry
| School of Optometry | School of Optometry |
| University of Waterloo | University of Montreal |
| Faculty of Science | Case Postale 6128 |
| Waterloo, Ontario | Succursale, "A" |
| CANADA N2L 3G1 | Montreal, Province of Quebec |
| (519) 885-1211 | H3C 3J7 CANADA |
| (514)343-6948 |