Everything you need to know about Optometry Courses

• 11 May, 2026

Table of Contents

1. What is Optometry — and Why Does It Matter?
2. Why Eye Care is One of India's Most Urgent Healthcare Needs
3. Programme Overview at a Glance
4. Eligibility Criteria
5. Curriculum — What You Learn and When
6. Career Opportunities
7. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 

1. What is Optometry — and Why Does It Matter?

Think about the last time you squinted at a board in class, struggled to read a restaurant menu, or felt your eyes ache after a long day on screen. For millions of people, these are not passing inconveniences — they are daily realities that affect how they work, learn, and experience the world. Behind every pair of prescription glasses, every contact lens fitting, every early detection of glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy, there is a trained optometrist who made it possible.

Optometry is the healthcare discipline focused on examining, diagnosing, and managing conditions of the eye and visual system. It sits at the crossroads of science and patient care — combining a deep understanding of optics, ocular anatomy, and visual neuroscience with the ability to communicate effectively with patients of every age and background. Optometrists are not just vision testers. They are primary eye care providers who detect systemic diseases through the eye, manage ocular emergencies, fit specialty contact lenses, and guide patients through low vision rehabilitation.

At Santosh Deemed to be University, Ghaziabad, the Department of Optometry offers three carefully structured pathways — a Diploma, a Bachelor's degree, and a Master's degree — allowing students to enter the profession at the right level and grow as far as their ambition takes them.

2. Why Eye Care is One of India's Most Urgent Healthcare Needs

India accounts for nearly one-fifth of the world's blind population. Cataracts, refractive errors, glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, and age-related macular degeneration together affect hundreds of millions of people — and a significant proportion of this burden is either preventable or treatable with timely intervention. The challenge is not simply medical. It is a workforce challenge. India does not have enough qualified eye care professionals to serve its enormous and growing population.

Add to this the explosion of screen use across all age groups, rising rates of myopia in children and adolescents, and the expansion of tele-optometry into rural healthcare delivery — and the case for choosing a career in optometry becomes clear. This field is not only clinically rewarding. It is genuinely essential.

Over 550 million people in India require vision correction. Only a fraction currently receive it. Every trained optometrist who enters the workforce helps close that gap — one patient, one examination, one pair of glasses at a time.

 

3. Programme Overview at a Glance

Detail	Diploma in Optometry (D. Optom)	Bachelors in Optometry (B. Optom)*	Masters in Optometry (M. Optom)*
Offered By	UP State Medical Faculty	Santosh Deemed to be University	Santosh Deemed to be University
Duration	2 Years	4 Years + 1 Year Internship (Sem. Based)	2 Years (Semester Based)
Mode	Regular	Regular / Full-Time	Regular / Full-Time
Annual Fee	Rs. 1,15,950/-	Rs. 2,50,000/-	Rs. 2,00,000/-
Eligibility	The student who possess 10+2 from PCB/ PCM from Recognized Board with 45% aggregate Marks.	10+2 /HSC with English, Physics, Chemistry and Biology or (Botany & Zoology) [OR] English , Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics or its equivalent qualifications from a Recognized Board. [OR] The Candidates who possess Diploma in Optometry are eligible for admission to B.Optom Course (Lateral Entry)	The Candidates who possess B.Optometry / B.Sc. Optometry or its equivalent qualification from a Recognized University
Admission Process	Direct Admission — upsmfac.org	Direct — admission.santosh.ac.in	Direct — admission.santosh.ac.in
Regulatory Body	UP State Medical Faculty	As per NCAHP Guidelines	As per NCAHP Guidelines

 

*As per the latest National Commission for Allied Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) guidelines.

 

4. Eligibility Criteria

Programme	Minimum Eligibility
Diploma in Optometry (D. Optom)	Passed 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (PCB) or Mathematics (PCM) from a recognised Board, with 45% aggregate marks
Bachelors in Optometry (B. Optom)	Passed 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology or (Botany & Zoology) OR Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics or equivalent from a recognised Board. Diploma in Optometry holders are eligible for Lateral Entry
Masters in Optometry (M. Optom)	B.Optometry / B.Sc. Optometry or equivalent qualification from a recognised University

 

Note: Candidates should confirm eligibility and admission details at admission.santosh.ac.in before applying.

 

5. Curriculum — What You Learn and When

Each programme is designed to build skills progressively — starting with core sciences and foundational clinical exposure, then advancing to specialist diagnostics, patient management, and research. Here is a snapshot of what each year focuses on:

Programme & Year	Focus Areas
D. Optom — Year 1	Foundational knowledge of ocular sciences, basic optics, optometric instruments, and essential clinical assisting skills
D. Optom — Year 2	Practical eye examination support, refraction assistance, patient care, and effective functioning within clinical eye-care teams
B. Optom — Year 1	Strong foundation in basic medical sciences, ocular anatomy, optics, and professional orientation
B. Optom — Year 2	Core optometric skills — visual assessment, refraction, instrumentation, and ocular disease understanding
B. Optom — Year 3	Clinical diagnosis, specialty optometry, and management of diverse patient groups including paediatric and geriatric cases
B. Optom — Year 4 + Internship	Advanced clinical practice, community eye care, research exposure, and professional readiness for independent practice
M. Optom — Year 1	Advanced clinical insight in ocular diseases, diagnostics, community eye care, and specialised optometric practice
M. Optom — Year 2	Expert-level competence in advanced diagnostics, specialty optometry, multidisciplinary care, independent research, and clinical leadership

 

6. Career Opportunities

One of optometry's greatest strengths as a career is its range. Whether you want to work in a busy hospital eye department, run your own practice, support athletes through sports vision training, serve underserved communities through outreach camps, or build a career in academia and research — there is a pathway for you. Here is a look at the roles that await Santosh Optometry graduates:

Career Role	Where You Work & What You Do
Clinical Optometrist	Hospitals and eye clinics — comprehensive eye examinations, refractive error management, ocular disease diagnosis, and co-management with ophthalmologists
Optometric Technician / Vision Care Assistant	Clinical teams — supports diagnostics, refraction, patient care workflows, and instrument management within structured healthcare settings
Contact Lens & Binocular Vision Practitioner	Specialty optometry practices and vision therapy clinics — contact lens fitting, binocular vision assessment, amblyopia management, and vision rehabilitation
Low Vision & Rehabilitation Specialist	Rehabilitation centres and hospitals — delivering assistive care, prescribing low vision aids, and improving quality of life for visually impaired patients
Community & Public Health Optometrist	NGOs, government programmes, and tele-optometry platforms — preventive eye care, school vision screening, occupational health, and rural outreach
Optical Consultant & Practice Manager	Optical retail chains and private practices — eyewear dispensing, frame selection, patient counselling, and business management
Academic & Research Roles	Universities, research institutions, and vision science centres — teaching, clinical research, and advancing the evidence base for optometric practice

 

Career tip: Optometry graduates who develop skills in tele-optometry, paediatric vision care, or specialty contact lens practice are among the most in-demand professionals in India's rapidly expanding eye care sector — particularly in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities where specialist access remains limited.

7. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What is the difference between D. Optom, B. Optom, and M. Optom?

The Diploma (D. Optom) is a two-year programme that prepares you for a clinical assisting role in eye care settings. The Bachelor's degree (B. Optom) is a five-year programme (including internship) that qualifies you as a fully independent optometrist capable of primary eye care practice. The Master's degree (M. Optom) is a two-year postgraduate specialisation for those who want to develop advanced diagnostic expertise, pursue research, or move into academic and leadership roles.

Q2. Do I need NEET to apply for any of these programmes?

No. NEET is not required for admission to any of the optometry programmes at Santosh Deemed to be University. Admission for the Diploma follows UP State Medical Faculty guidelines; the Bachelor's and Master's programmes follow NCAHP admission procedures. Visit admission.santosh.ac.in for details.

Q3. Can a Diploma holder join the Bachelor's programme?

Yes. Diploma in Optometry (D. Optom) holders are eligible for Lateral Entry into the B. Optom programme. This allows you to build on your existing foundation and progress toward a full Bachelor's qualification without starting from scratch.

Q4. What kind of clinical training will I receive?

Santosh's integrated campus places the Department of Optometry within a 900+ bedded teaching hospital. From the very first year, students gain supervised clinical exposure through outpatient eye services, refraction clinics, contact lens assessments, low vision care, binocular vision evaluations, and advanced diagnostic procedures including slit lamp examination, visual field testing, and retinal imaging.

Q5. What career options are available after the B. Optom programme specifically?

B. Optom graduates are eligible to work as independent Clinical Optometrists in hospitals, clinics, and private practices. They can also specialise in contact lens fitting, community and public health eye care, optical retail management, or pursue further study through the M. Optom programme.

Q6. What is the fee and how do I apply?

The annual programme fees are Rs. 1,15,950/- for D. Optom, Rs. 2,50,000/- for B. Optom, and Rs. 2,00,000/- for M. Optom. Apply online at admission.santosh.ac.in or contact the admissions helpdesk at +91 78385 54401 / 04 / 10 / 86.