Doctorate Degree in Optometry

Generally, to have an education in optometry requires a graduate and an undergraduate degree. Most optometrists can be found working in private practice, while some of them have specialization in specific areas, such as in geriatrics or pediatrics. This is the time when high level of academic attainment is necessary, specifically a Doctorate Degree or a PhD. This advanced course requires students great investment, in terms of money and time. In fact, some educational institutions provide programs that are designed to cater the needs of diverse students.

Doctorate Degree – Graduation

It is a standard to attain a bachelor’s degree before starting this doctoral program. This course usually takes four years to be fully-completed. It has a number of undergraduate coursework requirements before successful admission including areas in education, biology, health, physics, chemistry, and mathematics. However, this degree is not just limited to these subjects as you can also take any other major courses as long as students are able to complete all the required coursework. Interested applicants for this degree program should take the admissions test that is designed to assess the academic ability and scientific comprehension of the students in general chemistry, physics, biology, organic chemistry, quantitative reasoning, and reading comprehension.

Doctorate Degree -Course Work Structure

Doctorate Degree in this field of study focuses on the structure, function, and diseases or disorders of the eye. This can be achieved after four more years of study after completing students’ undergraduate work and obtaining admission to an accredited school for this field. The graduate coursework for this doctoral degree includes study in the areas of physiology, human anatomy, eye diseases, vision and vision disorders, biochemistry, and systemic diseases that may affect the eye.

Research in this doctoral degree puts emphasis on the normal and abnormal processes in vision, eye disorders and diseases, and visual pathways. Students in this degree work on various ways to keep vision loss in different approaches, which may have a wide range from molecular and cellular to optical or behavioral.

After attaining their doctorate Degree, some optometrists get involve in residency programs to advance their preparation beyond their entry-level practice. This residency usually lasts at least 12 months. Among the residency concentrations for this post-graduate study are vision therapy and rehabilitation, primary eye care, and pediatrics, family practice and geriatrics.

All optometrists are also required to take part in continuing studies so that they will be updated with new information about this field and maintain their licenses.

Among the reputable schools offering Doctorate Degree in this field study include the Indiana University, the Ohio State University, the State University of New York, and the University of Houston. These accredited colleges and universities offering this course maybe affiliated with hospitals, clinics, and military institutions. This approach may help graduates of the course have a venue to have practical experience their profession through internship programs. This may also give them greater chance to be absorbed by these institutions if they conform to the performance of the students during internship.