Abroad study ffor Master in Optometry

[Suju Bhattarai]

Master in Optometry is a two-year postgraduate program with an array of a comprehensive course designed to hone the skill of new as well as established practitioners. Generally every module is of twenty credits and the module include Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Nutrition and the Eye, Myopia, Investigative Ophthalmic Science, Glaucoma, General Ocular Therapeutics, Advanced Visual Science, Advanced Contact Lenses, Accommodation and Presbyopia, Prescribing for disorders of the eye, Refractive Surgery, Research Methods, Research Review, Retinal and Macular Disorders and Visual Impairment. If you are willing to undertake MSc, you should complete sixty credit researches under the university’s professor. The program is made up of courses like Visual Neuroscience, Research Skills in Optometry, Research Project, Advance Diagnosis and management of Ocular Disease 1, Advance Diagnosis and Management of Ocular Disease 2, Ocular Therapy, Clinical Imaging, Behavioural Optometry, Specialty Contact Lens Studies, Advanced Contact Lens Studies, Advance Clinical Optometry and Evidence Based Optometry.

You cannot enter the course directly in most of the universities since Master of Optometry is a second part of a 5 years course. You should first complete the 3 years Bachelor of Vision Science program and then continue the master’s program.

It is very important to complete the Master in Optometry in order to be the registered optometrist. The program broadens your skills and knowledge through case-based assessments and case-based learning. You will get the real world experience through the internship or the clinical placement. Most of the universities invite the guest lecturers to equip you with in depth knowledge.
You might need to buy some of the equipment on their own. Those equipment generally last for fifteen years. This may cost you around 4000 to 5000 dollars.

Talking about the tuition fees, it varies depending upon the country and university you choose to study. Generally, the tuition fees are a little higher however you can apply for the scholarship to sweeten the cost.

Career Outcomes:

Graduate with Master in Optometry degree have multiple career options including teaching, research, practice in clinics or open one’s own clinic. They even have an option to work in areas like low vision, public health vision, paediatric vision and contact lens practice. Some typical employer includes government, health & personal care stores, office of physicians and offices of optometrists. Salary ranges from $92,320 – $121,640 per year.

Admission Requirement for International Students:
Applicant should have completed 12 years of formal education
Applicant should submit recent photographs
Applicant should submit complete and signed form
Applicant should submit a copy of passport
Applicant should submit a copy of transfer certificate
(Note: Admission requirement may differ depending upon the country)

Some popular universities and college offering postgraduate degree in Optometry
Cardiff University, UK
University of Alabama at Brimigham, USA
University of New South Whales – UNSW, Australia
City, University of London, UK
Anglia Ruskin University, UK
University of Melbourne, Australia
University of Auckland, New Zealand
Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australia
Aston University Birmingham, UK
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Malaysia
International Islamic University Malaysia 9IUUM0, Malaysia
Ulster University, UK