Optometry is a healthcare profession dealing with eye and vision care. Optometrists are the primary healthcare practitioners whose responsibilities include refraction and dispensing, assisting in the detection and management of eye conditions, and the rehabilitation of conditions of the visual system.
Bachelor of Optometry (B. OPTOM) at university designed to skill students in the intricacies of vision and different aspects and connections, to get jobs in top-notch hospitals, practice privately, or open dispensing outlets. The course curriculum designed by industry experts and academic stalwarts is practical based that includes Clinical observership from the first year, maintaining a Clinical Log Book during the Internship, and submission of Clinical projects and case report in the final year. A 12-month Internship program at renowned eye hospitals and retail optical chains is part of the curriculum.
The department is planning to extend the lab facility with various specialty labs in contact lenses, binocular vision, low vision rehabilitation, and dispensing optics lab. The Department is equipped with state-of-the-art laboratory facilities like Health Sciences Lab with Human Cadavers, Clinical Lab, and Eye Dissection facility using Bull’s Eyes. Industrial experts, academicians, doctors, and hospital personnel visit the campus, to train students in research and industrial opportunities.
Bachelor’s in Optometry paves the way to an exhilarating and gratifying career in optometry. Specific graduate attributes have been carefully demarcated, developed, and charted to every component of the course that integrates optical, visual, and biomedical sciences with clinical decision-making and patient care.
B.OPTOMETRY Course Highlights
Course name Bachelor of Science in Optometry
Specialization Optometry
BSc Optometry course duration 4 years program (3 years academics + 1-year internship)
Academic pattern Academic year is divided into two semesters
Eligibility 10th / 12th with PCBM or pure science
Program Structure Semester-wise
Admission Process Entrance exam and interview (for first-year entry)
For Lateral entry
A diploma from a university accepted by IOA/OCI. A two-year ophthalmic assistant course from a reputed hospital with a clinical experience of at least two years. Transcript of the course studied. An Entrance exam for all students will be conducted and followed by a personal interview. Students should produce all the original documents for verification at the time of joining. Shortlisted candidates will be called for a personal interview in the college.
Eligibility Criteria for B.Optometry Course
ADMISSION IN THE FIRST YEAR
Students who have Passed 10th, and 12th Higher Secondary Examinations from a Recognized Board with a minimum aggregate of 50% and Students of science stream with biology subject.
LATERAL ENTRY
A diploma from a university accepted by IOA/OCI. A two years ophthalmic assistant course from a reputed hospital with a clinical experience of at least two years. Transcript of the course studied.
Why did You Choose For B.Optometry Admission in Kolkata West Bengal?
- A trustworthy institution (more than about 11 years of experience) opening promising opportunities and giving wings to Optometry career the year after year.
- Promising consistent and assured hands-on training on all the instruments and diagnostic tools under proper guidance with hundreds of patients observed every day in well-known hospitals and nursing homes.
- Well experienced and devoted faculties
- Assure for job placement in the future.
What is BSc (Hons) Optometry?
Bachelor of Optometry or called B. Optometry is one of the several healthcare courses which a person can pursue at the undergraduate level according to their interest. Across India, this course is offered in various medical and healthcare colleges as a four-year undergraduate course. Students pursuing this course are named Optometrists whose work is related to eye and visual systems as a consulted by primary health care practitioners. These practitioners assist in providing eye and vision care, which may include dispensing and refraction, co-management, diagnosis of disease in the eye, and handling the visual system’s conditions.
Generally, various aspects such as visual aids, refractive conditions of a human eye, abnormalities involved in the human eye, cure diseases, and the other services are involved in the curriculum of B.Optom in India to train the students who are pursuing this course of Optometry. This course involves three years of education and then headed by one year of internship to provide a source of practical knowledge to the students pursuing B.Sc Optometry. Different processes that involve the optical and vision system could be learned by the students through this course. The production and manufacturing of aids in an optical system such as spectacles, contact lenses, etc which are essential to be understood are involved in this course. Those students who have completed this course are eligible for diseases related to vision and eye.
Difference Between BSc Optometry and B.Optometry:
Bachelor in Optometry is also called BOPTM. The difference between B.Sc Optometry and Bachelor of Optometry are the subjects they offer. The degree they offer is also different and B.Sc Optometry needs 1-year clinical training/ Internship. The course duration is 4 years.
Why Study BSc Optometry?
B.Sc Optometry course opens a wide variety of career opportunities to the graduates. They can work in a variety of settings such as primary healthcare, corporate, public sector or even move into research and academics.
Earlier optometry was limited to fitting eyeglasses, whereas today, optometrists also examine and help diagnose diseases of the eye. In addition to providing glasses, the Optometrist provides corrective devices such as contact lenses and devices to support low vision. Optometrists, as primary healthcare. Optometry students can choose general practice or select such specialties as a contact. practitioners are often the first ones to catch the changes in the eye due to diseases such as diabetes and arteriosclerosis, leading to early diagnosis and treatment. Today ophthalmologists and optometrists work as a team. Optometry students can choose general practice or select such specialties as contact lenses, vision therapy, orthotics, learning disabilities, pediatric and occupational vision.
The scope of Optometry as a profession is increasing in India as vision-related problems including refractory issues such as Myopia are increasing in the county. Myopia prevalence in India is on an increasing trend both among children and adults. As per studies,1 out of 6 children aged between 5-15 years is suffering from myopia. To counter and deal effectively with this. this, India will need more trained ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians.
As per MOHFW, a student, who completes an optometry program in less than 4 years will be considered an ophthalmic assistant, not an OPTOMETRIST. An ophthalmic assistant can practice only under the supervision of an ophthalmologist, unlike an optometrist who can practice independently.
Eligibility Criteria for Students opting for B.Sc (Hons) Optometry
There is a minimum requirement that student must have completed their 12th class with Chemistry, Biology, and Physics subjects.
The aggregate required marks must be greater than or equal to 45%.
The applicant must be at least 17 years to apply for this course.
Admission process for students opting for B.Sc (Hons) Optometry
Across India, there are several methods of admission which are often opted by various universities and colleges. Of all other methods, merit-based and entrance-based are the popular admission processes. Following are the entrance exams for the admission process for the Bachelor of Optometry:
AIIMS Exam
JNU Entrance Exam
CMC
DU Entrance Test
Syllabus of B.Sc (Hons) Optometry
Year 1
SI.No Subjects
1 English and Communication
2 Basics of Computers
3 General Anatomy
4 General Physiology
5 General Biochemistry
6 General Microbiology
7 Nutrition
8 Pathology
Year 2 Subjects
1 Geometrical Optics
2 Visual optics
3 Basic and Ocular Pharmacology
4 Physical Optics
5 Optometric instruments
6 Dispensing Optics & Public Health & Community Optometry
7 Binocular Vision Systemic Disease
8 Research Methodology & Biostatistics
Year 3 Subjects
1 Low Vision care
2 Ocular Disease & glaucoma
3 Optometric optics & Dispensing Optics
4 Clinical examination of the visual system
5 Indian Medicine and Telemedicine
Job Prospects and Future Opportunities for Students Pursuing B.Sc (Hons) Optometry
Following are some of the employment opportunities for students of Bachelor of Optometry:
Basic research and integrated professional areas
Public health
Industries
Companies
Corporate sector
Private practice
Work for an optical chain or under an optical store
Scientific research
Education sector
Eye care hospitals and institutions
Candidates pursuing this degree can enter various areas of employment. Following are some of those job profiles:
Optician
Vision Care Associate
Vision Consultant
Private Practitioner
Optometrist
Trainee Optometrist
Optometry Researcher
Following are higher education options for students who have completed a degree in B.Sc Hons Optometry:
M.Sc in Optometry
Master of Optometry
MBA
PGDM
PD Diploma in Ophthalmic Technology
So, pursuing a career in this field is beneficial for your future.