In 10 semesters over four years, the Doctor of Optometry (OD) program offers a dynamic, cutting edge curriculum that trains you to provide the fullest scope of optometric care. At The Ohio State University College of Optometry you will be among the best and brightest students learning from the best and brightest faculty as you:
- Begin patient care in the first year
- Directly examine 1800 patients by the time you graduate and see additional patients through school screenings, case reviews, grand rounds, and Eyewear Gallery appointments
- Deliver eyecare in all primary and sub-specialty areas in our College’s full range of clinical services including: Primary Vision Care, Binocular Vision, Pediatrics, Advanced Ocular Care, Contact Lenses (Adult and Pediatric), Low Vision Rehabilitation, and Eyewear Gallery
- Learn to run a successful optometric practice with the most comprehensive series of practice management courses, ranging from personal finance to the development of a complete business plan
- Assess and hone your personal leadership skills utilizing our first-of-its-kind, Ohio State Optometry specific I-CE Leadership Competency Model, discover the career path that fits you best and develop the tools and materials needed to reach your career goals through the OptomEyes series.
At Ohio State, we are preparing the leaders of tomorrow!
Click on each course for more details
| First Year |
| Autumn |
- Biochemistry for Optometry
This course is designed to help optometry students integrate biochemistry with concepts related to ocular pathology, and therapeutic treatment.
- General and Histological Anatomy
Gross and microscopic anatomy of the body with emphasis on head and neck anatomy and organ systems.
- Geometric Optics
Vergence, ray tracing and image formation. Refracting and reflecting surfaces, lenses, prisms, model eyes. Magnification, apertures and stops, astigmatism, prismatic effects of lenses, aberrations.
- Introduction to Primary Care Testing I
Through lecture and direct patient care, students will learn technical skills for parts of the optometric examination. Interpretation of tests will be covered superficially. Professionalism and interpersonal skills will be emphasized.
- Ocular Anatomy
Human gross anatomy of the head and neck with special emphasis on the eye and orbit; histology and embryology of the eye and associated structures.
- Introduction to Optometry Business**
Introduction to the business aspects of the profession of optometry to help students understand and better prepare for their future as an optometrist from a business and financial perspective.
- Pathophysiology I
Provides a comprehensive introduction to pathology, including: inflammation, genetic disease, and neoplasia. Pathophysiology of blood, GI, endocrine, and respiratory systems will be examined in detail.
- Practice of Optometry
Professionalism, clinical decision making, SOAP format, medical records, patient rights, HIPAA, clinical ethics in optometry, diversity and cultural competency.
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| Spring |
- Epidemiology, Public Health and Environmental Vision
This course will explore epidemiological theories as they related to public health. Community aspects of providing vision care, environmental influences on visual performance, and protection from diseases/hazards to the eye and visual system will also be covered.
- General and Visual Neuroanatomy
Anatomy of the central and peripheral nervous system with special emphasis on autonomic system and anatomy of the visual system.
- Introduction to Primary Care Testing II *
Through direct patient care experiences, students will learn technical skills for parts of the optometric examination. Interpretation of tests will be covered superficially. Professionalism and interpersonal skills will be emphasized.
- Microbiology for Optometry
This course is designed to help optometry students integrate microbiology with concepts related to ocular pathology, and therapeutic treatment.
- Ocular Physiology
Functions and organic processes of the components of the eye and surrounding structures.
- Optics of the Eye
Optics of ametropias and their correction, classification and etiology of refractive errors, schematic eyes, retinal image size, optics of clinical instruments, optics of accommodation, aberrations of the eye.
- Pathophysiology II
The pathophysiology of the nervous system, muscle systems, cardiovascular, renal, and immune systems. Students will integrate information from VisSci 6130.
- Physical Optics and Photometry
Principles of photometry and colorimetry; light sources; diffraction, polarization, interference, electromagnetic waves, quantum optics, lasers.
- Introduction to Clinical Diagnostic Reasoning in Optometry
A week long Keystone course taken at the end of first year. Using a problem-based learning format, optometric cases will be utilized to model and develop diagnostic reasoning skills emphasizing basic science and systemic disease.
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| Both Semesters |
- OptomEyes
The OptomEyes seminar is designed to help new students explore their personal identity and increase self-awareness, navigate the transition to optometry school, identify opportunities to personalize their education, and launch their development as leaders.
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* Direct Patient Care
** Practice Management Course
| Second Year |
| Autumn |
- Anterior Segment Ocular Disease
Abnormalities and diseases of anterior segment of the eye with emphasis on identification, diagnosis and general management.
- Basic and Ocular Pharmacology
An introduction to the mechanism of action and side effects of pharmacologic agents.
- Ocular Care Techniques
Introduction to techniques used in assessment of ocular health and diagnosis and management of ocular disease.
- Ophthalmic Optics
Optics of single-vision and multifocal lenses; measurement and fitting of spectacles; lens materials, design and manufacturing; aberrations; prism and centration; managing anisometropia; tints and coatings.
- Optometric Examination
The underlying concepts and interrelationships of optometric tests to permit the development of diagnosis and treatment plans for a specified series of optometric problems.
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| Spring |
- Advanced Ocular Care Techniques
Investigation of advanced clinical techniques used in the assessment of ocular health and in the diagnosis and management of ocular disease.
- Clinical Ocular Pharmacology
Application of pharmacology principles in the clinical setting with emphasis on differential diagnosis and matching drug selection and dosage determination with disease severity.
- Billing and Coding**
This course introduces students to the billing & coding aspects of the profession of optometry. This knowledge is critical to the successful practice of optometry, regardless of career path. This course is designed to help the students understand and better prepare for their future as an optometrist from a billing and coding perspective.
- Diagnosing and Prescribing
Techniques of investigating special types of vision anomalies; diagnosing and prescribing for vision anomalies; coding and billing. Emphasis on case analysis.
- Introduction to Primary Care Practice *
Introduction to clinical experience in examining the visual system and carrying out corrective procedures.
- Posterior Segment Ocular Disease
Abnormalities of the posterior segment with emphasis on vitreoretinal disease, vascular disease, and macular disease.
- Visual Neurophysiology and Perception
Spatial, temporal and chromatic aspects of visual sensation by retina, lateral geniculate, cortex and other brain centers; psychophysics of visual perception; disorders affecting visual pathway.
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| Either Autumn or Spring |
- Ophthalmic Dispensing *
Clinical experience in ophthalmic design and dispensing; education and experience in dispensary management.
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* Direct Patient Care
** Practice Management Course
| Third Year |
| Summer |
- Contact Lenses
Optics, design, materials, and measurement of contact lenses, theory, fitting and prescribing of sphericals and torics, post-fitting care, contact lens solutions.
- Contact Lens Lab
Measurement, verification, and fitting of rigid gas permeable and soft spherical contact lens designs.
- Eye Movements and Binocular Vision
Characteristics of and clinical evaluation of monocular and binocular eye movements.
- Management of Glaucoma
Glaucoma diagnosis and management including epidemiology, pathophysiology, differential diagnosis, risk assessment, testing strategy and interpretation, medical and surgical management.
- Ocular Neurology
Neurology and neuro-pathology of the visual system and basics of visual field testing and interpretation.
- Vision of Children
Examination of pediatric patients, including special examination procedures, development of refractive error, prescribing, ocular health, and child abuse.
- Intermediate Clinical Diagnostic Reasoning in Optometry
A week long Keystone course at the end of summer. Using a problem-based learning format, optometric cases will be utilized to further develop clinical diagnostic and management skills requiring basic and clinical science integration.
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| Autumn |
- Advanced Contact Lenses
Theory, fitting, and prescribing of specialty contact lens designs including but not limited to torics, multifocals, corneal reshaping and fitting the diseased or irregular cornea.
- Advanced Contact Lens Lab
Fitting of specialty contact lens designs, such as toric, multifocal, corneal reshaping, and scleral designs.
- Clinical Binocular Vision
Classification, epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of nonstrabismic and strabismic binocular vision disorders, accommodative anomalies, amblyopia, oculomotor deficiencies, and visual perceptual lags.
- Optometric Business Management I**
This course covers the business aspects of the profession of optometry including practice metrics, human resources, optical management, organizational structure, marketing, business relationships, business plans, financial accounting, entrepreneurship, your professional team, and more.
- Systemic Disease for Optometry
Systemic and ocular manifestations of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hematology, inflammatory disorders, thyroid disorders, neurological disorders, immunology, infectious disorders, macular degeneration management, laboratory blood work.
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| Spring |
- Injections, Lasers and Advanced Ocular Techniques
Practical experience in injections, ophthalmic lasers and advanced ocular techniques.
- Low Vision Rehabilitation and Gerontology
Assessment and management of mild to moderate visual impairment, especially related to reading and driving, with special emphasis on the needs of older adults.
- Surgery and Co-management of Ocular Disease
Advanced management, pre and post operative management and surgical procedures for ocular disease.
- Optometric Business Management II**
This course dives deeper into the business aspects of the profession of optometry. This knowledge is critical to the successful practice of optometry, regardless of career path. This course is designed to help the students understand and better prepare for their future as an optometrist from a business and financial perspective.
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| Clinical Education * |
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* Direct Patient Care
** Practice Management Course
| Fourth Year * |
| Main Clinic and Practice-Based Care* |
- Binocular Vision and Pediatrics Service
Comprehensive care to infants, toddlers, children and patients of all ages with eye coordination difficulties. Special attention is paid to binocular and accommodative functioning as it relates to vision and learning. Exposure to patients with acquired brain injury and exceptional patients who may not respond to the traditional clinical examination.
- Contact Lens Service
Primary eyecare for contact lens wearers and specialty lens fitting including exposure to keratoconus, post-surgical lens fitting, and other medically necessary contact lenses.
- Low Vision Rehabilitation Service
Low vision consultation and training to patients with reduced visual function. Special emphasis is placed on providing individual care and training with visual aids such as magnifiers, telescopes, prisms, and electronic viewing devices.
- Student Health Center Optometry Services
Comprehensive eye health and vision care delivery to currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students. Clinical experience emphasizes efficient medical eyecare and contact lens management.
- Private ophthalmology practice, ophthalmology referral center or clinic (8 - 9 weeks)
Clinical exposure to an ophthalmology subspecialty with emphasis on preoperative and postoperative surgical management.
- Private Optometric Practice (8 - 9 weeks)
Clinical exposure to primary care patients in a private optometric setting with emphasis on practice management.
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| Ocular Disease Externship * |
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| Advanced Practice Externship * |
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* Direct Patient Care
** Practice Management Course
Note: The above curriculum meets the Kentucky Board of Optometric Examiners laser course requirement (201 KAR 5:110 Section 1) for licensure in Kentucky.
Fourth Year Overview
The fourth year is divided into three 17 week rotations. One rotation is in Columbus and the surrounding area and two are externships in locations around the US including: Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Main Clinic and Practice-Based Care
Within the main clinic on-campus you will see a diverse patient base drawn from the campus, Ohio, and surrounding states while learning from faculty optometrists who are experts in specialties including cornea and contact lenses, binocular vision, traumatic brain injury, retinal disorders, and low vision rehabilitation. And off-campus, experience a variety of practice settings gaining broad exposure to contemporary primary eyecare with special emphasis on adapting to diverse patient encounters in unique environments and areas of practice.
Each Main Clinic and Practice-based rotation will include:
On-Campus:
Off-Campus:
- Private optometric office (8-9 weeks)
- Private ophthalmology practice, ophthalmology referral center or clinic (8-9 weeks)
Ocular Disease Externship
Train full-time at a Veterans Administration Optometry Clinic with special emphasis on patient populations with ocular disease and ocular manifestations of systemic disease.
Advanced Practice Externship
Choose a specified clinical areas of emphasis such as medical and surgical co-management of ocular disease, eyecare delivery to specialized patient populations, or full scope, contemporary optometric practice.
Options for Advanced Practice Extern rotations include:
- Ophthalmological practices and surgical co-management centers
- Optometric offices with distinctive practice structures, unique settings, or noteworthy clinic services
Licensure
Ohio State academic programs are designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification for practice in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure and certification and state licensing board contact information at go.osu.edu/onground.
