Poor eye health would leave most of us would unable to function very well (or at the very least, feel extremely uncomfortable), especially in the modern world we live in.

Fortunately, medical technology and techniques pertaining to vision science are fairly advanced, and one discipline that has contributed to and benefited from these developments is optometry.

So what exactly is optometry and what can you expect from a degree programme in it?

Optometry is primary healthcare profession and a specialised area of ocular medicine that does not just involve testing eyesight and prescribing visual aids for vision-related disorders such as myopia and treating ailments such as eye infections and corneal injuries.

In recent years, with the focus of optometry expanding to include a focus on the scientific and physiological aspects of more serious/complex visual conditions such as glaucoma and keratoconus, there has been some evolution in the scope of optometric training and range of medical issues optometrists are expected to be able to handle.

As an Optometry undergraduate, your academic journey will be part theory-based, part practicum-oriented, with extensive clinical training and lab-work supplementing lectures; all of which will prepare you for the demands of the profession.

You will likely take modules within the realms of ocular science, microbiology, pathology, neuroscience and vision therapy and specialise in areas such as paediatric vision correction, binocular vision, contact lens patient management.

With the current shortage of optometrists in Singapore, Optometry graduates are extremely sought-after by clinics, vision health/eye care companies, research centres such as the Singapore Eye Research Institute and Defence Science Organisation, hospitals and optometry-oriented retail stores.

If you see yourself in this line, pursue a degree in Optometry!

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