What is Optometry?: Course Fees 2025, Subjects, Top Colleges, Admissions

Optometry course is a professional course in the healthcare domain that deals with measuring vision, developing and studying lens types, and diagnosis and treatment of vision-related ailments, among others. The duration of undergraduate Optometry courses is four years and that of the postgraduate level is two years. 

The Optometry subjects involve both theoretical as well as practical lessons. An internship or training of six months to one year is also mandatory for the successful completion of the course. 

In Optometry Bachelor degree courses, students learn about the structure and function of the eye, ocular diseases, binocular vision, visual perception and even optometric instruments.

The Optometry Bachelor degree curriculum includes a balance of both the theoretical and practical sessions. Students attend lectures, participate in laboratory sessions and even gain hands-on experience through their clinical rotations.

In the Optometry Bachelor degree, candidates learn how to conduct the eye examinations, measure visual acuity, prescribe corrective lenses and even fit contact lenses. 

It'll take four years for a person to become an Optometrist. BSc Optometry is a full-time undergraduate programme. It is a four-year degree programme which is divided into eight semesters of study.

Out of these eight semesters, six semesters are theory-based and undertaken in a classroom and remaining two semesters are training based and undertaken at a tertiary eye care hospital.

The Optometry salary in India can always vary depending on the various factors such as the location, experience and even the type of practice (private clinic, hospital, corporate eye care chain), and level of education. 

• Entry-Level: INR 2-4 LPA

• Mid-Level: INR 4-6 LPA 

• Senior-Level: INR 6-10 LPA

Dear Sahil,

Optometrists are health professionals who have specialised in eye care and they deal with eye testing and providing solutions to patients who suffer from partial sight, hereditary vision defects, squint, weakening of eye muscles etc. They suggest the use of proper vision aids such as spectacles or contact lenses.

They also provide pre-operative and post-operative care to cataract patients. While the Pharmacy sector offers lots of opportunities to the students after the completion of the course. The students can work in a Pharmaceutical company or can practice as a Pharmacist. There is huge number of opportunities available for the students in both public and the private sector. If you have more interest towards medical area than you can go for Optometry profession. All the best.

To become an optometrist in India, one can follow these steps after completing your Class 12:

• Choose the Science Stream in Class 12

• Complete Class 12

• Research Optometry Colleges and Courses

• Sit for Entrance Exams

• Apply for Optometry Course

• Do Clinical Internships

• Get the Licensing

To become an Optometrist, you can look for:

• You need to have 12th from Science Biology recommended) with at least aggregate marks of 50%.
• Then apply for B.Sc. Optometry. There are various B.Sc. Optometry colleges which conduct entrance exams also, in order to provide admission to the candidates in B.Sc. Optometry course.
• After completing B.Sc., further you can Proceed with M.Sc. Optometry.
• Further you can Proceed with Doctorate in Optometry (OD).

No, in India, if you want to pursue the B Optom course, a Science background in Class 12 is considered.  

This is because the Optometry course is full of Science topics like Physics, Chemistry and Biology, therefore, a candidate belonging to an Arts or Commerce is not ideally eligible to apply for the Optometry courses.

There are about 800+ best Medical colleges in India that provide full-time MBBS courses. Of these top MBBS colleges in India, 153 are privately owned, 89 are government owned and the rest 8 are semi-government owned. NEET, KEAM, Kerala NEET, MP NEET, AP NEET and Maharashtra NEET are some of the popular entrance exams for admission to top Medical colleges in India. Some of the best MBBS colleges in India are All India Institutes of Medical Sciences, Delhi, Christian Medical College, JIPMER Puducherry, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, KGMU and many more. 

Please note that the best infrastructure among all Medical colleges in India is subjective and majorly depends on individual tastes and preferences. However given below are some colleges that are often praised for their infrastructure:

Yes, Optometry courses place a strong focus on practical training and hospital exposure. Students go through laboratory work, clinical postings and even hands-on sessions with diagnostic equipment.

Most colleges make it sure that hospital internships are there during the final year, where students usually examine patients under some supervision.

This experience not only helps them apply theoretical knowledge in real scenarios but also build confidence in them and even develop essential skills in them that are required for careers as clinical optometrists or specialists.

Both the courses include core subjects such as anatomy, optics and even ocular diseases. But there are also some key differences like BSc Optometry is more academically oriented which focuses more on the Science and theory behind eye care.

But B.Optom is more about the clinical practice and patient care with more structured hospital training. 

The Optometry syllabus includes a balance between classroom learning as well as applied and practical training. In the course, there are subjects like ocular physiology, contact lens technology and even optometric instruments that students study and also go through practical sessions.

Also, clinical postings and internships in the hospitals help them diagnose refractive errors, manage vision therapy and even assist in specialised eye care. 

Yes, an optometrist has a doctorate-level degree in optometry which is also known as a Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree.

The Doctor of Optometry degree is a professional doctoral degree that enables individuals to practice Optometry which is called the field of healthcare focused on the examination, diagnosis, treatment and even management of vision and eye-related disorders.

Candidates can check the table below to see the comparison between the two courses.

Diploma is a non-degree program and will not make you eligible for any government job opportunity where a degree is required and also you cannot go for higher education.

Still, you can work as an opthalmic assistant with various organisations with an average salary of around 10K per month. B.Sc Optometry is a degree program and better than Diploma, you become eligible for higher studies, may apply for various government jobs and also get a better pay as compared to Diploma holders.

One of the best courses that you can go for is Bachelor of Optometry that will give you a very detailed and in depth understanding of the field by combining theory and practical training to handle real world scenarios related to eye care and vision needs. Top colleges also collaborate with eye care institutions to give you the best possible facilities and cutting edge tools and technology.

The affordable colleges offering Optometry courses are:

The way to choose the best Optometry college based on placements and facilities is:

• Check hospital tie-ups and campus recruitment records

• Look at lab facilities, diagnostic equipment, and clinical setup

• Compare internship opportunities and alumni reviews

• Evaluate faculty expertise and research exposure

The kind of clinical exposure students get in top Optometry colleges is:

• Hands-on patient examination in eye hospitals

• Training in refraction, vision therapy, and contact lenses

• Exposure to advanced diagnostic tools

• Internships in multi-specialty hospitals and eye institutes

Optometry is a specialised health care profession that involves examining the eyes and related structures for defects or abnormalities. Optometrists are health care professionals who typically provide comprehensive primary eye care. An optometrist is an eye doctor that can examine, diagnose, and treat your eyes.

An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who can perform medical and surgical interventions for eye conditions.

The career opportunities in the field of Optometry is wide and in huge demand both in India and abroad. Optometrists can work as post-secondary teachers, occupational/industrial safety programs, consultants in the eye care industry or do research in optometry colleges. Optometrists can also set up their own private clinics & work independently.

They can also choose a career in sports vision, public health and government service or community health centers. Regards.

Hi Satish,

Scope ranges from working in private clinics to government hospitals. Salary will depend on your profile and work experience but generally the salary range stands somewhere between 12k to 15k. But if you are skilled enough you may earn more. Various career options include jobs in Eye Clinics,optical showroons, lens manufacturing firms, Eye Doctors, sales, teacher, optometrist etc. Hope it helps.

Hi Khushboo, Optometrists working in government hospitals can start off with a decent pay package and those who opt for private clinics can negotiate for higher slabs. Apart from assisting ophthalmic doctors in government hospitals and private clinics an optometrist can find job opportunities in various areas. After few years of experience, they can start their own practice.

After completion of Master’s degree in Optometry, one can proceed for PhD and apply for a teaching job in any medical college. Since the eye is one of the most important human organs, optometrists can look forward to a career that offers enormous scope for growth and a wide range of options for practice in future. After all, it’s a career that helps you lead others from darkness to light, literally.

No, an optometrist is not an MBBS doctoror even graduate. Optometrists are professionals who have expertise in eye care services, which includes eye examinations, vision correction and even the diagnosis and management of certain eye conditions. 

Optometrists typically earn a Bachelor of Optometry (B Optom) or a similar degree, followed by additional specialisation or postgraduate degrees in Optometry.

In contrast, MBBS doctors are medical doctors who have completed a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery program. 

An eye doctor is called an Ophthalmologist or even an Optometrist, it all depends on their level of training and specialization.

An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor (MD or D.O.) who has expertise in the medical and surgical care of the eyes. But, an optometrist is a healthcare professional who is trained to provide primary eye care services such as performing eye exams or prescribing eyeglasses and contact lenses.

Yes, in India, optometrists who have an OD degree have the permission to use ‘Dr’ before their names. 

The Doctor of Optometry degree is a recognised degree in India, and all those optometrists who have completed this degree have earned the right to use the title "Doctor".

No, in India, individuals who have completed a B Optom course are not typically entitled to use the title "Doctor" or prefix "Dr." before their names, as the B Optom degree is not a doctoral-level qualification. Instead, individuals with a B.Optom degree are generally referred to as "Optometrists."