1. Optometry:
A Focus on Vision
Brian Godard, O.D.
Optometrist
Presentation created by:
Taline Farra, OD, MSc, FAAO
Associate Professor of Optometry
New England College of Optometry
Director of Admissions

2. What is a Doctor of Optometry?
► A primary health care professional for the eye.
► Examine, diagnose, treat, and manage
diseases, injuries, and disorders of the visual
system, the eye, and associated structures.
► Identify related systemic conditions affecting
the eye.
- American Optometric Association

3. What do Doctors of Optometry do?
► Healthy eyes
 Myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia
 Binocular vision
► Eye diseases
 Treated with pharmaceutical agents
► Systemic disease with ocular manifestations
 DM, HTN, thyroid, cancer, HIV
► Provide pre/post-op care
 Cataract, refractive, retinal, laser surgery

6. The 3 O’s
► Optician
 Fit, grind and dispense spectacles
► Optometry
 Primary eye care provider
► Ophthalmology
 Medical Doctor specializing in eye
disease and surgery

7. Why Optometry?
► Job satisfaction





Provide meaningful work
make difference in people’s lives
Immediate gratification
Clean work
Patients like coming to see you!
► Regular hours (full time vs part time)
 Minimal emergency calls
► Good income
► Freedom in choosing location to live and practice
______________________________________________________
► = Good quality of life

8. Go eyes!
Alcon
► Optometry ranked 2nd
-
best profession
US News and World Report Jan 5, 2006
► Optometry rated “excellent” in a guide to careers
-
US News and World Report March 19, 2007
► Optometry rated as one of “Best Careers 2008”
-
US News and World Report Dec 19, 2007

9. Modes of Practice
► Solo Private Practice
► Partnership or Group Practice
► Interdisciplinary Care
► Retail/Optical Settings
► Optometric/Ophthalmologic Professional Settings
► Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs)
► Military/Public Health
► Academic/Research
► Corporate/Industrial
► Consultants

10. Annual Net Income Potential
Median
Mean
Self-Employed
$140,000
$175,000
Salaried
$90,000
$98,000
- 2007 American Optometric Association Economic Survey
For estimated figures by location, visit: www.salary.com

11. Colleges of Optometry
► 16 Colleges/Schools of Optometry in the
US.
► No valid ranking of Optometry schools.
NECO
► Accreditation
► Private vs. state
► University v. Independent
► Ranges in tuition
► Financial aid available

12. Common Prerequisite Courses
► Biology with lab
► Calculus
► Physics with lab
► Statistics
► Chemistry with lab
► Organic chemistry
► Biochemistry with lab
► Microbiology with lab
► 3 + 4 year program
► Psychology
► English
► Social Sciences
► Other Humanities

13. Requirements for Optometry School
► A properly completed application for
admission, including a personal essay
► Official transcripts from all colleges attended
► Official Optometry Admission Test (OAT)
scores (for more info: www.opted.org)
► Letters of recommendation
► Optometry experience/exposure
► Personal interview

14. Optometric Education
► 4 year curriculum






Health science
Vision science
Ocular disease
Systemic disease
Optics
Binocular vision
 Clinical Rotations

15. Post-Optometric Education
► Residency
 Primary Care
Optometry
 Pediatric Optometry
 Geriatric Optometry
 Vision Therapy
 Low Vision
 Cornea and contact
lens
 Ocular Disease
► Research
 Masters
 PhD

16. Licensure
► Doctor of Optometry degree
► Pass National Board Examinations in
Optometry
► Individual State Requirements

17. Significant Future Demand!
► Aging population of baby boomers will
increase demand for optometric services
► Replacement of retiring optometrist

18. Important Websites
► www.aoa.org and www.opted.org
Any additional questions?
drgodard@gmail.com

19. The New England
College of Optometry
Dr Taline Farra
Director of Admissions

20. Current Colleges of Optometry
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
Illinois College of Optometry
Indiana College of Optometry
Inter American University of Puerto Rico
Michigan College of Optometry (Ferris State)
New England College of Optometry
Northeastern State University (in Oklahoma)
NOVA Southeastern University
The Ohio State University
Pacific University (in Oregon)
Pennsylvania College of Optometry
Southern California College of Optometry
Southern College of Optometry
State University of New York
University of Alabama (Birmingham)
University of California (Berkeley)
University of Missouri (St Louis)
University of Houston

21. 2006
Mean Net Income
Median Net Income
Self-Employed
Solo
$ 134,094
$ 115,000
Partnership or group (2person)
$ 176,944
$ 149,000
Partnership or group (3-5
person)
$ 179,205
$ 141,000
Partnership or group (6 or
more)
$ 159,300
$ 92,500
Optical chain franchise or
lease
$ 100,704
$ 90,000
Independent contractor
$ 94,520
$ 94,000
Other self-employed
$ 128,400
$ 64,000
Employed By
Optometrist (s)
$102,981
$ 85,000
Ophthalmologist (s)
$ 115,250
$100,500
HMO
$107,125
$104,000
Hosp/clinic/other multidiscipline.
$101,867
$ 98,000
Optical chain
$ 91,400
$ 91,000
Armed forces, VA, USPHS
$ 101,579
$ 84,000
Other employed
$ 106,000
$ 95,000

22. Our Main Objective
 Dedicated to making you a successful
and cutting-edge optometrist in any
setting you choose.

23. What’s so different about NECO?
 Clinical Program
 Curriculum 2010
 Research
 College Community
 Boston and Back Bay

24. The New England Eye Institute
The Clinical Affiliate of NECO
 Clinical network dedicated to patient
care and clinical teaching.
 Widely distributed throughout Boston

25. The New England Eye Institute
Associate Traditional Clinical Organizations
 NEEI Commonwealth
 Community health centers
 BU Boston Medical Center
 Tufts New England Medical Center
 VA hospitals

26. The New England Eye Institute
Innovative Clinical Programs
 Homeless Service
 Low vision and Geriatrics Service
 Pediatric school health programs
and rehabilitation programs
 International Programs
 VOSH

27. The New England Eye Institute
Student Involvement
 1st year: Screenings
 2nd year: Clerkships
 3rd year: Primary Care Rotations
 4th year: Full-time patient care
Community-based health center
Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Special Populations
Elective Rotation

28. Curriculum 2010
 Prepares you to practice as a future
optometrist.
 Prepares you for Credentialing and
Privileging within the NEEI system.

29. Research
 Among the top optometry schools in
National Eye Institute research
funding.
 Only private optometry school
committed to research
 Combined M.Sc./O.D. Program for
selected students

30. College Community
 Small private college
 Professional yet relaxed atmosphere
 Friendly students and approachable
faculty
 Social events
 Beautiful building
and
facilities

31. Boston and the Back Bay
 A cultural center and educational
leader
 Top businesses:
Education
Health Care
 Safe Area!

32. NECO Pre-requisites
 Biology (with lab): 2 sem or 3 quarters
 Chemistry (with lab): 2 sem or 3 quarters
 Physics (with lab): 2 sem or 3 quarters
 O-Chem (with lab): 1 sem or 2 quarters
 Microbiology: 1 sem or 2 quarters
 Math (incl calc): 2 sem or 3 quarters
 Psychology: 1 sem or 2 quarters
 English: 2 sem or 3 quarters

33. NECO Current 1st Year Stats
 Ave GPA: 3.34 ± 0.29
 Ave OAT AA: 331 ± 19
 Class size: 115 (total apps: 739)
 Males: 31
Females: 84