Optometry

Interested in becoming an optometrist? 

Click each box to learn more about what optometrists do and what it will take to become one. 

What do Optometrists/ODs Do? 

Job Definition/Responsibilities

Doctors of optometry (O.D.s/optometrists), America’s primary eye health care providers, are the frontline of eye and vision care. Doctors of optometry are essential health care providers and are recognized as physicians under Medicare. They examine, diagnose, treat and manage diseases and disorders of the eye. In addition to providing eye and vision care, they play a major role in an individual’s overall health and well-being by detecting systemic diseases, and diagnosing, treating and managing ocular manifestations of those diseases, and providing vaccinations.” (American Optometric Association [AOA]).

Conditions typically cared for by ODs are: 

• Corneal abrasions, ulcers, or infections; glaucoma; and other eye diseases that require treatment with pharmaceutical agents, management, and referral when necessary;
• Visual skill problems such as the inability to move, align, fixate, and focus the ocular mechanism in such tasks as reading, driving, computer use, and in tasks related to hobbies and employment;
• The inability to properly process and interpret information requiring perception, visualization, and retention such as that needed for most learning tasks;
• Poor vision–body coordination when one interacts with the environment, as in sports, occupations, and other everyday activities requiring spatial judgments; 
• Clarity problems such as simple nearsightedness or farsightedness or complications due to the aging process, disease, accident, or malfunction.

ODs also work to: » » »

• Diagnose, manage, and refer systemic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and others that are often first detected in the eye;
• Provide presurgical and postsurgical care of cataracts, refractive laser treatment, retinal problems, and other conditions that require presurgical and postsurgical care;
• Encourage preventative measures such as monitoring infants’ and children’s visual development, evaluating job/school/hobby–related tasks, and promoting nutrition and hygiene education.

Find more information about a career in optometry, check out ASCO's overview. 

Salary

Data from the American Optometric Association shows average net income of $168,193 optometrists.

Preparation and Optometry School Admissions 

Admissions Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree: Not always required, but consistently preferred. Undergraduate degree can be from any major.  

GPA: Optometry programs will take several factors into consideration: your cumulative/overall GPA, your Math/Science GPA, Prerequisite GPA, and the trend of your GPA from each semester to the next. Ultimately, having a strong average in each area is ideal as well as showing an upward trend or a consistently accomplished pattern in academic rigor throughout undergraduate coursework. Each school will vary on their minimum GPA requirements, but a 3.5+ is considered competitive. 

Cumulative and Math/Science

            3.5 or higher = Strong Candidate

            3.0 or higher = Meets the minimum, but isn’t competitive

            Below 3.0 will need to be reviewed by the admissions committee

Observations/Shadowing: 30 shadowing hours is often the minimum, but a variety in a multitude of settings and specialties is preferred.  Varies by program on the number of hours, but the more that you see the more you will know! And that's particularly important when it comes to learning about your dream job. While observing, be as professional as possible and prepare questions that go beyond surface level. Ask them about what they consider to be the good and the not so great aspects about their field, their work-life balance, what they wish they would've known or done differently at your phase of life, etc. You will also want to stay in touch with these professionals as they could potentially become one of your evaluators or mentors someday.

Prerequisites: Required classes for each optometry school will vary per program and can change at any time, so it is wise to periodically check your selected programs' websites, attend info sessions, and stay in contact with their admissions team. Some programs may have fewer prerequisite requirements from the next but showcasing the ability to manage the rigor of additional, upper-level psychology and science coursework (for science majors!) is recommended in order to be a competitive applicant.

While not limited to or exclusive of, the courses below are examples of commonly required prerequisites for optometry programs:

• Biology I and sometimes Biology II
  
  • Biology I with lab | BIO 1134
  • Biology II with lab | BIO 1144
• Chemistry I and II
  
  • Chemistry I with lab | CH 1213 & 1221
  • Chemistry II with lab | CH 1223 & Ch 1221
• Microbiology with lab | BIO 3304
• Organic Chemistry I with lab | CH 4513 & CH 4511
• Behavioral Sciences 
  
  • General Psychology | PSY 1013 (most common)
  • Optional Competitive Course Electives:
    
    • Abnormal Psychology | PSY 3213 
    • Cognitive Neuroscience | PSY 4413
• Mathematics
  
  • Trigonometry | MA 1323 and/or Calculus | MA 1713
  • Statistics
    
    • Intro to Statistics | ST 2113
    • _{Some programs may require a specific type of stats course like Inferential Stats, or they may not accept other types of stats like Behavioral or Business.} 
• Physics I and Physics II with labs
  
  • Physics I with lab | PH 2213 or General Physics I with lab | PH 1113
  • Physics II with lab | PH 2223 or General Physics II with lab | PH 1123
    
    • _{In the case of a professional school requiring 8 credit hours as opposed to “2 semesters” or “1 year” of physics, Physics III/ PH 2233 or General Physics III with lab/ PH 1113 may also be required to fulfill the hour requirement}
• Biochemistry  
  
  • Principles of Biochemistry- BCH 4013
  • General Biochemistry I | BCH 4603
    
    • _{Double check programs that require this in regard to lab and before taking the principles course}
• Anatomy & Physiology (Not required by every program)
  
  • Human Anatomy with lab | BIO 3004
  • Human Physiology with lab | BIO 3014
    
    • _{If taking combined A&P courses at other institutions, those cannot be combined with MSU's Anatomy or Physiology courses to fulfill this requirement.} 
    • _{Courses from other professional programs or disciplines (nursing, military medical training, comparative, and non-human focused A&P) courses will likely not satisfy this requirement} 
    • _{BIO 1004 at MSU will not satisfy any portion of this requirement. It is an introductory course.}
• Additional Humanities, Social Sciences, and/or Behavioral Courses may be required:
  
  • English Comp I and II
  • Sequences or combinations in sociology, history, anthropology, etc., are also common

• Entry Exam/ Testing Requirements : 

  OAT The Optometry Admission Test (OAT) is a comprehensive examination that enables optometry education programs to assess the knowledge and preparedness of program applicants.

WHEN TO TAKE THE OAT

•  All applicants are required to take the OAT no later than the March 1 application deadline; however, we strongly recommend submitting an application and taking the test early in the application cycle.
• Sitting for the test during the summer a year before entering optometry school is encouraged because this could accelerate the processing of the application. For many students this will be the summer between their junior and senior years of their undergraduate education. It also allows enough time to retake the test if needed. For students taking the OAT more than one time, SCO uses the set of scores with the highest academic average, so there are no penalties for retaking.

• Involvement/Extracurriculars: Admissions committees can derive a skillset from anything that you do. For students who are working while in their undergrad, they may not be involved in as many clubs, teams, and organizations. And that is okay in the holistic review process! Our goal is to be a well-rounded pre-professional student and that will look differently for each individual. 

However, I do have one suggestion for membership at MSU: Pre-Optometry Club at MSU  

• Service: At MSU, we pride ourselves in going wherever we are called to serve and volunteering our time to those in need. Volunteering for your local, campus, and/or abroad communities is not only rewarding, but it can also allow you to grow in ways that nothing else can teach you. Empathy and compassion are admirable qualities of a healthcare provider, and volunteering is a fantastic way to learn and showcase those qualities about yourself. Remember, we don't just say we are these things, we do the things to prove it. 

• Letters of Recommendation: Optometry programs will vary on this requirement. Some will ask for specific people as recommenders, while others may only request an amount without specifying who they should be. Many programs require at least one letter coming from an OD, so build a good rapport with those that you work with and/or observe. Other strong recommenders might be your supervisors, professors, advisors, or anyone that can attest to your abilities, ethics, and character. Always double check your program’s requirements.

The Optomcas Application

The OPTOMCAS: The Optometry School Centralized Application Service (Optomcas) is a division of the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry  (ASCO) that exists to make the application process fair and efficient for applicants and optometry schools. OPTOMCAS becomes available around mid-summer each cycle. Deadlines for submission will vary depending on individual programs, but the earlier that you can submit, the better. 

The Application Cycle 

• Before application year, it is encouraged to meet with your pre-health advisor to create a timeline and strategic plan for essays, prep, etc, over the course of time together. 
• OAT should be taken earlier in the spring or summer of the year of application to give yourself time to properly prepare or even retake if needed. 
• Confirm priority dates for individual optometry programs
• Begin to fill out and submit applications for optometry programs. If applicable, contact OPTOMCAS, or individual schools directly for specific questions.
• Reach out to evaluators ahead of time. Once they agree to write a letter of recommendation for you, input their information through OPTOMCAS. Everything will be submitted through the liason portal digitally and each of you will receive links and confirmation of submission. 
• OptomCAS begins accepting applications around July 1, more than a year in advance of when students would begin the program the following fall.
• Acceptances are often granted on a rolling admissions basis. If you wait until December to apply, the number of positions available is small and competition for the remaining seats becomes very intense.
• Verification of applications takes time! Try to submit early if possible.
• Keep pursuing meaningful experiences, maintaining strong professional relationships, volunteering, and beginning interview preparation practices. 

Regional Optometry Programs 

The state of Mississippi does not have its own optometry school. However, we have two programs that reserve seats for Mississippi residents to be able to apply and receive in state tuition if accepted. The two schools that reserves those contract seats are:

Southern College of Optometry

University of Birmingham Alabama

National Directory of Optometry Schools

Optomcas National Directory

For assistance in planning a pre-optometry path at MSU, contact Claire Palmer