In recent years the role of the optometrist has expanded significantly, and it now includes the diagnosis, prevention,
and treatment of eye and vision disorders. In addition, optometrists offer health education, manage curative or
preventive regimens, and provide vision care to special groups of patients. Berkeley Optometry is the premier program in the world
for preparing doctors of optometry to diagnose and treat eye disorders and diseases and to deal with a wide array of
physical, physiological, environmental, and social issues that affect the welfare of our patients.
Optometrists have a wide range of career options. There are also great opportunities for qualified teachers and
researchers in the schools and colleges of optometry around the world. For these positions, a Doctor of Optometry
degree (OD) combined with graduate study in vision science is highly desirable. In addition to the OD degree,
Berkeley offers a superb Vision Science Program leading to the MS or PhD degree. Research training for our OD and
graduate students is also consistent with the goals of the
UC Berkeley Health Sciences Initiative.
Our goal at Berkeley Optometry is to foster in you a love and respect for knowledge, the highest ethical and professional
standards, and complete confidence to serve your patients in a way worthy of their respect and that of your
colleagues. We aim to cultivate in you a clear understanding of the optometrist's role in society and a sense
of professional responsibility. To meet these goals, the school offers a broad preparatory program in the vision
sciences coupled with intensive clinical practice and course work in optometry. Berkeley Optometry will provide you with
extensive primary and specialty patient-care training at the school's world-renowned Meredith W. Morgan University
Eye Center and in our many Berkeley Optometry clinics and off-campus externship clinics. We also offer additional training and
experience with underprivileged populations through our community outreach clinics.
We hope that you will choose optometry as your profession, and that you will select our school to pursue your
optometric training.
