Pre-Optometry

Study + Excel. A competitive GPA is essential when considering a career in the health field. We recommend maintaining at least a 3.0 GPA. Talk with your academic advisor, professors, and the Academic Success Center for help with study skills through various workshops and tutoring.

Resume + Interviews. Create and/or improve your resume at the Office of Career and Professional Development. You can also gain confidence and develop your interview skills with a video-taped mock interview.

Job Shadow. We recommend that you gain experience by shadowing general practice optometrists and specialists of your choosing, as well as at least one ophthalmologist. Document your experiences in a physical or digital format, and obtain at least one letter of reference from a dentist you have shadowed.

Volunteer + Lead. We recommend that you participate in volunteer activities that benefit others. Contact the Office of Leadership and Community Engagement for more information about volunteering with local weekly trips, Alternative Break Trips, and more. We also recommend that you participate in leadership seminars, workshops, retreats and LEAD courses. Get involved and join a student club or organization, such as the Association of Pre-Health Professionals.

Connect + Explore. Get to know your professors and local health care professionals. These individuals are valuable resources for research experience, volunteering, shadowing and letters of recommendation. Consider Study Abroad programs through the Office of International Programs and Services. Attend information sessions, workshops, field trips, and other events for pre-optometry students offered by the Office of Medical Professions Advising.

Research. Talk with your professors and peers who are involved with undergraduate research and consider opportunities within the College of Science and Mathematics.

Prepare for the Optometry Admission Test (OAT). This test requires substantial amounts of preparation and study time, so it is never too early to begin. Typically, students prepare to take the OAT in the spring of their junior year, so it is important that necessary coursework be completed by this time.

Optometrists and ophthalmologists are both eye doctors, and each play an important role in providing eye care to patients. However, these specialists follow different educational paths and have different scopes of practice. The range of services and procedures that can be performed by each provider also range by state, therefore, it is important to be aware of the rules and regulations of your state licensing board.

Optometrists: Optometrists perform comprehensive examinations of the internal and external structures of the eye, perform subjective and objective tests of visual function, and diagnose and treat medical and visual disorders of the eye. Optometrists are often referred to as a “primary eye-care provider.”  Although optometrists are not M.D.s, most current optometrists can prescribe certain medications, as well as diagnose and treat a broad range of medical conditions that impact the eye, including glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts, retinal disease and ocular disorders associated with diabetes and high blood pressure. In fact, it’s not unusual for a skilled optometrist to be the first health care professional to spot developing systemic conditions like diabetes during routine eye exams. Since optometrists are not physicians, they may refer a patient to surgeons for treatments beyond the scope of their legal practice whenever needed.

Ophthalmologists: The American Academy of Ophthalmology definition of ophthalmologists reads: “Ophthalmologists are medical and osteopathic physicians who provide comprehensive eye care, including medical, surgical and optical care.” An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who completes college, has at least eight years of additional medical training, and is able to perform surgical eye care for trauma, crossed eyes, cataracts, glaucoma, and other problems. An ophthalmologist may also perform plastic surgery related to wrinkles and sagging eyelids. In order to become an ophthalmologist, acquisition of an M.D. or a D.O. (doctor of osteopathy) degree is necessary following the completion of college. After 4 years of medical school and a year of internship in general medicine, every ophthalmologist spends a minimum of 3 years in a university and hospital-based residency specializing in ophthalmology.

Listed below are some general similarities and differences between the two fields.

Optometrist – Doctor of Optometry

• General vision services like eye exams, and treatment of conditions like strabismus and amblyopia
• Diagnosis and basic treatment of eye conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and conjunctivitis (pink eye.)
• Prescribing medications for certain eye conditions (for example, antibiotics for eye infections)
• Eye disease and injury-prevention
• Prescribing and fitting eyeglasses and contact lenses
• Vision therapy services, such as eye exercises and low-vision aids
• Pre- and postoperative care for people who have had eye surgery or Lasik surgery.

Ophthalmologist – Doctor of Medicine (M.D. or D.O.)

• Provides vision services including eye exams
• Medical eye care for conditions such as glaucoma, iritis, and chemical burns
• Performs surgical eye care for trauma, crossed eyes, cataracts, glaucoma, and other problems
• Diagnosis and treatment of eye conditions related to other diseases such as diabetes
• May also perform plastic surgery related to wrinkles or sagging eyelids.

OAT – (Optometry Admission Test)

The Optometry Admission Test (OAT) is a comprehensive exam that enables optometry education programs to assess the knowledge and preparedness of program applicants. OAT test results are accepted by all optometry schools in the U.S. and Canada. The four-part test is administered year-round by Pro-metric Test Centers in Canada and the U.S. and its territories, including Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Cost: $515.00

Length of Test: 4 hours, 30 minutes

Score Range: 200 to 400

Test/Retest Policy:

• Candidates must wait 60 days between testing attempts on the OAT, with a maximum of four (4) such administrations permitted during any 12-month period,
• Candidates with three (3) or more attempts on the OAT must apply for permission to test again, providing proof of recent application to optometry school with each subsequent application to test,
• After the candidate’s fifth OAT attempt, the candidate may retest only once per 12-month period.

To register, begin by reading the OAT Guide.

Shadowing

As a prospective dental student, you are expected to spend time shadowing an optometrist. Before seeking a shadowing position, please consider HIPAA/patient confidentiality issues. Specifically, this means hands-off observation only.  It is important that you do not engage in any activity that could be construed as the practice of dentistry. Even if you plan to specialize, you need to have a bulk of your shadowing hours with a general dentist. The idea behind shadowing is to learn the nuances of patient care. Outside of interacting with and treating patients, dentists have many responsibilities that may include running a business, teaching, or doing research.

Some optometry schools require a specific number of shadowing or observation hours. You will want to check the individual websites of the schools to which you plan to apply for these numbers. However, a good benchmark would be around 170-200 hours. It is good practice to keep an Excel spreadsheet of your hours and journal as you observe patient interaction and procedures. This will be beneficial when you fill out the “experiences” section on your application. 

Volunteering

Volunteering is a large portion of the dental school application which should not be neglected.  Optometry schools are looking for students who not only demonstrate that they can manage rigorous courses while staying busy, but also those who are compassionate, enjoy working with people and show direct evidence of their dedication to serving their community.  Volunteering can be done in a clinical setting such as a hospital or hospice, but it can also be done with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, the Humane Society, or any other organization (on-campus or off-campus) that you are passionate about. Optometry schools are looking for students that show depth of commitment and substantial involvement and leadership in the community.

If attempting to volunteer at a local hospital or clinic (e.g., East Georgia Regional Medical Center or St. Joseph’s/Candler), it is important to be mindful of deadlines and requirements. Most hospitals and clinics have a specific time-window each year that they accept and train potential volunteers. Further, most require volunteers to pass background checks and have up-to-date immunizations and tuberculosis testing. It is your responsibility to research deadlines and requirements when seeking out volunteer opportunities.

Optometry Programs in US: Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO)