BSc Optometry: Course Details, Eligibility, Admission, Fees

B.Sc Optometry is a three year-long undergraduate course, which deals with eye care and visual defects and abnormalities. The study includes the eye care aspects, the vision systems employed for rectifying the defects in the eye, correction of errors using contact lens or spectacles and diagnosis of ocular diseases. There are many job opportunities for students in this course including a Doctor of Optometry in a private hospital or a government hospital. Aspirants can also start their independent clinic after graduation with this degree.

B.Sc Optometry Course Details

Degree	Bachelors
Full Form	Bachelor of Science in Optometry
Duration	3 Years
Age	No age limit
Minimum Percentage	Minimum 50% in 10+2 board examination
Average Fees	INR 60,000 - 2 LPA
Average Salary	INR 3.5 LPA [Source: Payscale]
Employment Roles	Optometrist, Product Support Specialist, Professor, Optometry Researcher

About B.Sc Optometry

B.Sc Optometry full form is Bachelor's of Science in Optometry. Wikipedia defines Optometry as, “Optometry is a health care profession that involves examining the eyes and applicable visual systems for defects or abnormalities as well as prescribing the correction of refractive error with glasses or contact lenses and the treatment of eye diseases. Traditionally, the field of optometry began with the primary focus of correcting refractive error through the use of spectacles. Modern-day optometry, however, has evolved through time so that the educational curriculum additionally includes significant training in the diagnosis and management of ocular disease, in most of the countries of the world, where the profession is established and regulated.” It is a very independent profession and students post-graduation have a lot of scope in building a successful career in this field.

Table of Contents

B.Sc Optometry Eligibility Criteria
B.Sc Optometry Admission Process
Popular B.Sc Optometry Entrance Exams
Top B.Sc Optometry Colleges
Fee Structure for B.Sc Optometry
Syllabus and Subjects for B.Sc Optometry
Why Choose B.Sc Optometry Course?
Preparation Tips for B.Sc Optometry
Scope for Higher Education
Salary of B.Sc Optometry Graduate
Career Options After LB.Sc Optometry Course
Skills TO Excel

Also Read: List of Medical Courses after 12th without NEET

Eligibility Criteria for B.Sc Optometry

Admission to B.Sc Optometry in India will only be convenient and possible for students if they put effort in doing research about the college’s eligibility criteria and requirements. To get admission, students will have to give an entrance exam. The entrance exam works like a screening process for colleges to decide whom to give admission to. Additionally, students must finish their 10+2 from a recognized board at the time of admission. The minimum age for admission in the course is 17 years, the maximum age is subject to the college aspirants are interested in.

How To Get Admission for B.Sc Optometry?

For admission in the college of their choice, students must ensure that they know about the eligibility criteria. They must clear the entrance exams and 10+2 from a recognized board. The admission selection process tends to be on a merit basis, and so students should obtain a minimum aggregate of 50% in their higher secondary. The course falls under the umbrella of B.Sc and henceforth has a similar admission process.

How to Apply?

For admission in Bsc Optometry colleges, students must register themselves in the online application for the entrance examination. There is a specific national exam for the course, many colleges tend to host their own specific entrance exam for the course. After the completion of form, they will have to provide the colleges with all the documents and certificates. Students must also find out information about the examination hall and location.

Selection Process

The selection process for the admission in the BSc Optometry course, is on the college. But generally speaking most colleges tend to follow the same process to deciding whom to admit. Most colleges have their own specific entrance exams, and they give admission on the basis of that. Some colleges give admission purely on the basis of high school marks.

Popular Entrance Exams for B.Sc Optometry

There are many entrance exams that students need to give to get admission in a college of their choice. The entrance exam plays an important role in the eligibility criteria for the admission process. Some popular exams conducted by the universities are:

A Quick Glance at the B.Sc Optometry Entrance Exam

Knowing the exam pattern for the entrance exam can really help the students get a better idea about how they should prepare for the entrance exam. The students should also put effort in going through the previous year’s questions,as they can practice time management due to that.Below is a generic pattern for entrance exams:

The exam tends to be of 120 minutes or 2 hours
The questions are of MCQs
30 questions in each section
Total Four sections, but students can choose between Biology and Mathematics- Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics

Top 10 B.Sc Optometry Colleges in India

Below is the list of the ten best Colleges that provide Bsc Optometry degree in the country:

B.Sc Optometry Colleges
S No.	Name of the College
1	AIIMS Delhi
2	NIMS Jaipur
3	SRM University Chennai
4	Sharda University Noida
5	Ansal University Gurgaon
6	Galgotias University Noida
7	MAKAUT Kolkata
8	Veer Narmad South Gujarat University Surat
9	Amity University Gurgaon
10	Chandigarh University

Fee Structure for B.Sc Optometry

B.Sc Optometry fees can vary from each college and is variable due to many factors. Some of the factors which can influence the fee structure, some of these include the location of colleges, the demand for the college and the facilities available. On average the fee ranges between INR 60,000 to 2 LPA. Listed below the average fee structure of some top B.Sc Optometry school:

B.Sc Optometry Fees
S.No.	Name of Institute	Total Fee Structure
1	Amity University	INR 3.8 LPA
2	SRM University, Chennai	INR 3.6 LPA
3	Sharda University, Noida	INR 5.4 LPA
4	Chandigarh University	INR 3.4 LPA
5	Ansal University	INR 3.7 LPA

Syllabus and Subjects for B.Sc Optometry

The syllabus and subjects for B.Sc Optometry is decided by the colleges keeping in view that this education will help future specialists perform key treatments that people might need. The course is a three year long, spread across six semesters.The course has both core subjects and electives that the students can study. Core subjects are subjects which are considered essentials and therefore, students don't have a choice but to study these subjects. Whereas, the electives are optional subjects which makes the course diverse. Listed below are some of the generic syllabus which all colleges cover:

General Physiology
Practical Lab
Visual Optics
Optical Instrumentation
Eye Disorder Analysis

Read More About BSc Optometry Syllabus and Subjects

Why Choose B.sc Optometry?

B.Sc in Optometry is a very promising course for students who are interested in the field of optometry. To properly understand the reason why students decide to pursue this route, we should make it simpler by breaking it down into three short questions:

What is B.Sc Optometry All About?

B.Sc Optometry is a three year long undergraduate course which consists of six semesters.The course is all about eye care and the abnormalities and rectification methods. This course handles the study of contact lenses and spectacles.The students are trained to identify the defect in the eye and propose the rectification methods. The program also enables the students to set up a start up eye care company by enhancing their professional skills. The candidates can work under the supervision of the eye doctors or enter into the ophthalmic solution companies.

What Does a B.Sc in Optometry Graduate Do?

This field has a wide scope and there are a number of jobs after BSc Optometry are available for the grads. The job responsibility of an optician is to design and alter the lenses of the spectacles according to the refraction and prescription of the doctor.Some of the shared functions of graduates are mentioned below:

Helping The Public With Eye Related Issues: Since the education that students are exposed to helps them learn a lot about the world of optometry, graduates of this course become specialists and experts who can helps people with the different eye related issues.

Reasons Why B.Sc Optometry Can Fetch You a Rewarding Career?

B.Sc Optometry can fetch a rewarding and successful career path for students as it a very on demand job. The knowledge that students gain during their education will help them get a sharper edge and help them enter the workforce with full confidence.

Demand: There is a lot of scope for graduates as there are many organizations and clinics who need eye specialists for their organisations to continue providing service. It is a specialised degree due to which the demand is usually higher than the supply of graduates.

Read More About BSc Optometry Jobs

Preparation Tips for B.Sc Optometry Graduate

Students should put effort to understand the course structure before starting the course beforehand. The syllabus of the course is one of the essential factors which can help students get a better idea about what to expect when they get admitted in a course.They should do research about what all syllabus would be taught to them in the college they get admission in.

Scope For Higher Education

After Bsc Optometry course there is a lot of scope for students to pursue higher education. Interested students can pursue a masters or M.Sc in the subject and it will help them gain a deeper insight on the subject as well as a sharper edge in the job market. Additionally, if students want they can pursue a certification course after graduation as well. Some of these course include:

M.Sc Optometry
M.Optom
Advanced Certification in Optometry

Salary of a B.Sc Optometry Graduate

According to Payscale, the average salary of a B.Sc Optometry Graduate is INR 3.5 LPA. The value can change if students gain more education or experience.

Read More About BSc Optometry Salary

Career Options After B.Sc Optometry

There are many career options for students after the completion of BSc Optometry. The education helps the students to learn about a very relevant sector of employment. The most common roles the graduates work as are:

Vision Consultant
Customer Care Associate
Optometry Researcher
Professor
Ophthalmic Assistant
Sport Vision Consultant
Examiner
Orthoptics specialist
Ocular prosthetics specialist
LASIK assistant
Paediatric optometrist

Skills That Make You The B.Sc Optometry Graduates

There are many skills that students need to have in order to ensure that they are able to carve a successful career path for themselves.Some of these skills include: