Optometry
Career Info
According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), “Doctors of Optometry (ODs) are the primary health care professionals for the eye. Optometrists examine, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases, injuries, and disorders of the visual system, the eye, and associated structures as well as identify related systemic conditions affecting the eye.” Doctors of Optometry are trained to evaluate a patient’s visual condition and determine the best treatment for that condition. Conditions typically cared for by OD’s include: corneal abrasions, ulcers or infections, glaucoma and other eye diseases that require treatment with pharmaceutical agents, visual skill problems, poor vision-body coordination, and clarity problems or complications due to the aging process, disease, accident, or malfunction. Additionally, optometrists diagnose, manage, and refer systemic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and others that are often first detected in the eye. They also help patients determine whether they are candidates for new procedures in laser surgery. Most optometrists are in general practice, while others are involved in specialty practice such as geriatrics/low vision, pediatrics, sports vision, occupational vision, vision therapy or contact lenses. Most optometrists are self-employed, receive relatively few emergency calls, and can establish a flexible work schedule. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for optometrists in 2022 was $125,590. The field is projected to grow 9% by the year 2032.
More Information
Outlook: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/optometrists.htm
Education & Training
The Doctor of Optometry degree requires completion of a 4-year program at an accredited optometry school. Although not required, the vast majority of students accepted to optometry programs hold a bachelor’s degree. After completion of the OD program, many individuals choose to complete an additional year in a residency program that can enhance employment possibilities and provide further specialization/training. Currently, there are 23 schools and colleges of Optometry in the US and Puerto Rico. Of those, three programs are located in California. All U.S. optometry schools require the Optometry Admission Test (OAT), which focuses on natural sciences (biology, inorganic/organic chemistry), reading comprehension, physics, and quantitative reasoning. Scores around 330 (out of 400) for the OAT are considered competitive. The average overall GPA for accepted applicants in the 2019 - 2020 cycle for all optometry schools was 3.46.
Semester Course Recommendations
| Admission requirements vary by institution. Check with professional schools to ensure you satisfy course content & unit requirements for optometry programs |
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| General Biology (Two semesters) | |
| BIO 1150 & BIO 1151 | |
| Microbiology (course selection varies by major) | |
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MCRO 2224: General Microbiology I (For BIO/MCRO/BCHM majors for degree credit) or MCRO 2221: Introduction to Microbiology |
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| anatomy & physiology (course selection varies by major) | |
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BIO 2231 & BIO 2232 (For Non Bio Majors) |
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BIO 4431 & BIO 4432 (For BIO/MCRO majors for degree credit) |
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| General Chemistry (Two semesters) | |
| CHEM 1120 & CHEM 1122 | |
| Organic Chemistry (course selection varies by major) | |
| CHEM 2240 or CHEM 2242 | |
| Biochemistry (one semester) | |
| CHEM 3350 or CHEM 3352 | |
| college Physics or Calculus-Based Physics (Two semesters) | |
| PHYS 1121 & PHYS 1123 or PHYS 1141 & PHYS 1143 | |
| calculus & statistics (one semester of each) | |
| Calculus I: MATH 1261 or Calculus for Data Science: MATH 1264 | |
| Statistics: STAT 1110 | |
| psychology (one semester) | |
| PSY 2201 | |
| ENGLISH -PROFICIENCY IN WRITTEN & ORAL COMMUNICATION - (two semesters) |
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| GE 1A - Written Communication & GE - 1C Oral Communication | |
Schools/Programs in California
Professional Association Links
For more information, visit the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) website at https://optometriceducation.org/.
Cal Poly Pre-Optometry Club
Click HERE to view Cal Poly Optometry Acceptance Data (2023-2025)
