Career options in Optometry

Ranjan K Baruah *

In our last edition we have published information related to different paramedics' courses. I have received feedback and questions from our readers who asked me about optometry and its options. In today's edition we shall publish about optometry.

Optometry is a health care profession that involves examining the eyes and applicable visual systems for defects or abnormalities as well as the medical diagnosis and management of eye disease. Traditionally, the field of optometry began with the primary focus of correcting refractive error through the use of spectacles.

Modern day optometry, however, has evolved through time so that the educational curriculum additionally includes intensive medical training in the diagnosis and management of ocular disease, in most of the countries of the world, where the profession is established and regulated.

Optometrists are health care professionals who provide primary eye care through comprehensive eye examinations to detect and treat various visual abnormalities and eye diseases. Being a regulated profession, an optometrist's scope of practice may differ depending on the location.

Thus, disorders or diseases detected outside the treatment scope of optometry (i.e those requiring certain surgical interventions) are referred out to relevant medical professionals for proper care, more commonly to ophthalmologists who are physicians that specialize in tertiary medical and surgical care of the eye.

Optometrists typically work closely together with other eye care professionals such as ophthalmologists and opticians to deliver quality and efficient eye care to the general public. The term optometry is derived from the Greek word 'optos' which means eye or vision and 'metria' which means measurement.

World Council of Optometry (WCO) has defined optometrists as: Primary healthcare practitioners of the eye and vision system who can successfully manage the leading cause of vision impairment (i.e. refractive error) and can also help alleviate the burden of other causes of blindness through diagnosis, referral and co-management. One may join the course after completing senior secondary in science steam.

There are governments and private institutes offering the courses and the career options can be in government as well as in private sectors.

All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi offers B Sc (Hons) in Ophthalmic Technology, Optician and Refractionist Course;
Tripura Institute of Paramedical Sciences, Agartala offers Bachelor of Optometry and Vision Science (BOPTM),
Regional Institute of Paramedical and Nursing Science based in Aizawl offers B.Sc (Optometry & Ophthalmic Techniques) under the Mizoram University;
Srimanta Sankaradeva University of Health Sciences, Guwahati offers Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) in Optometry.

There are many other institutes offering the course all over India. Apart from qualification aspirants must have employability skills to excel in their career and professional life. One must remember that mere qualification is not enough to be employed. One must make a good career plan once they take admission in optometry to be successful in life.

Scholarships Update:
INSEAD L'Oreal Scholarship, December 2020: L'Oreal and INSEAD Business School jointly invite applications for INSEAD L'Oreal Scholarship for December 2020 class. The student applying for an MBA programme at INSEAD can get a scholarship worth EUR 20,000 under this programme. The key objective of this scholarship is to foster creativity, diversity, and entrepreneurial spirit among students. Last date is 3rd June.

The ICWA Fellowship Program 2019: The Institute of Current World Affairs (ICWA) invites applications for its ICWA Fellowship Program 2019 from candidates with a passion for their project country, who are sufficiently prepared to take advantage of the opportunity and who are not older than 36 years old.

The ultimate objective of the ICWA fellowship program is to cultivate deep expertise in foreign countries and cultures. ICWA's mission is to identify and cultivate rare potential and provide the opportunity with financial assistance. Aspirants may apply before 15th June.