Vision and eye health are vitally important for all of us. The ability to see and see clearly contributes a lot in educational achievement, occupational productivity, and overall quality of life. Maintenance of visual quality and a healthy visual system as part of overall good health is increasing in its priority to the public and health care community.

Optometrists are independent primary health care providers who examine and diagnose conditions that affect the eye and visual system. They are trained to manage the defects of the eye and associated structures that do not warrant pharmacologic prescription and surgical intervention.
Today, the profession of Optometry involves much more than just prescribing and fitting Glasses and Contact Lenses. Optometrists perform a comprehensive eye examination that includes an assessment of various aspects of the eye like; visual skills, eye-body co-ordination, alignment & focusing mechanisms of the eye and vision information processing. They play an important role in increasing awareness on visual problems to the public and co-managing the cases with other health care providers. In necessary situations, they refer the patients to an Ophthalmologist or a higher eye care centre for surgical as well as therapeutic management.

In the year 2002, the Department of Optometry started its cruise to build up a cadre of globally competent primary eye care professionals under the wings of MCOAHS - the largest allied health care education system in India. The curriculum is designed to meet the national and international standards. Our department is committed to provide a comprehensive patient centred mode of learning to prepare the student for dynamic practice of Optometry.

About the Profession

“Optometry”is an upcoming fraternity in health care profession with opportunities galore. This profession gives rewarding and challenging career options. An Optometrist is an eye care practitioner who provides primary vision care.

Optometrists will:

• Examine his patients eyes to diagnose vision problems and eye diseases
• Prescribe contact lenses
• Prescribe and fit spectacles
• Provide vision therapy and low-vision rehabilitation
• Counseling of patients with partial sight, colour blindness and hereditary vision defects