Doctor of Optometry

As an Optometry student, you will enjoy a leading university that attracts award-winning professors along with some of the best and brightest students from around the world. Standards for students and for teaching are set very high. Licensed ODs make up the body of expert faculty and clinic supervisors who provide an optimum mix of theoretical study and practical training.Throughout the four years, you’ll take courses that cover visual optics, visual neurophysiology, and clinical techniques along with the health and diseases of the human visual system. OD students study cell and molecular biology, pharmacology, genetics, epidemiology, clinical technology, ethics and practice management. In the first two years, you’ll build a base of knowledge in the basic sciences of health, disease, optics and visual sciences. As well, you are introduced to procedures and behaviour training in preparation for clinical practice.Patient contact begins in third year. Coursework continues and you begin the study and analyses of diverse real-life case examples. During the 3rd and 4th years, the emphasis shifts increasingly to clinical training. Internships include rotations through the School's primary care and specialty clinics; binocular vision, contact lenses, electrodiagnostics, low vision, ocular health and sports vision. At the same time, students are exposed to special populations such as paediatric, geriatric and developmentally disabled patients.