Question for optometrists or optometry students only?

The Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) is a specialisted concerned with the prvention, diagnosis and treat of diseases and disorders of the eye. Additionally, optometrists diagnose, manage and refer systemic diseasse such as hypertension, diabetes, and others that are often first dected in the eye. Applicants should engage in an array of activites that show an apprecation for , and understanding of, the duties and responsiblites of an Optometrist and the scope of the practice. All states, require a license to practice, and inorder to qualify for a license you must graduate from an accredited optomertric program (currently 17 such programs in the U.S.) and pass a state proficiency exam. in most colleges of optomertic medicine, the professional program comprises two phases. During the first 2 years, students concentre on anatomy and physiologly, general visual systems and principles of ocular disease. In addtion they recieve lecture, lab and clincial insturction in primary care optomerty. In the third year, students begin to examine patients in the program's clinic. During the 4th year, students recieve extensive traning in community health optermetery and other specialzed areas of optometric care. Minimum entrance requriments include at least 2 years of college or 60 semester hours, although a B.S. or B.A. degree is highly recommended. Common prequistes include Bio1 and Bio2 with lab (6-8 hours) Chem 1 and Chem 2, Orangic Chem1 and Oragnic Chem 2 (14-16 semester hours with lab) Physics1 and 2 with lab (8 hours) and Calculus 6 Semester hours of English is also required. Other highly recommmeded courses include Genetics, Microbiology, Human Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry. Other entrance requirements include 3-5 letters of recommedation, with at least one from a practicing optometrist. Additional selection factors involve applicants academic performance, OAT scores, clincial exposure/experience, extracurricular activities, personal attribuates, and a personal interview. Optometry is not as hard as med school to get into, but it is stilly highly competitive, so its not easy. for example, say there could be 17,000 med students applying in a year to med school, and there are 126 med schools in the United States. There may only be say 3000 students appying to optometry school, but there are only 17 accredited optermetry schools in the U.S. You do not have to be a science major to get into optometry school, since they do like a diverse class. However you must complete the prequ courses to even apply, check individually with each school with what they require, but I listed the common ones above. Good luck with your future plans.