Diploma in Optometry is a 3-year Diploma level Optometric course. The course is designed to teach students the different concepts of eye-health, diseases, diagnosis, and treatment of Human eyes. The course shelters topics such as psychology, patient management, and optometric retail management.
The basic eligibility criteria for pursuing a Diploma in Optometry course program is 10+2 schooling or equivalent examination in the Science stream with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and/or Mathematics from a recognized board.
Admissions to Diploma in Optometry course is either merit or entrance based. The merit list is prepared by colleges/ universities. Some of the accepted entrance exams are AIIMS Entrance Exams, AMU EE, BU EE, BFUHS EE, Etc.
The average tuition fee charged for this course ranges between INR 10,000 and 2,00,00 for 1 year. The course enables them to explore opportunities in fields other than health services. Students are taught first-hand by industry experts through off-campus classes and internships.
The graduates are hired in professions such as Customer Care Associate, Private Practitioner, Professor, Trainee Optometrist, Vision Consultant, Optometry Researcher, Nutrition Officer/Data Assistant, Junior Medical Coder, Optometrist Assistant, Asst. Lens Consultant, Office Assistant, Optometry Technician, etc.
An optometrist can earn INR 4 to 5 lacs per year as a fresher. An optometrist makes different salaries depending upon their employment place, applicable skills, and geographical area. In India, they can earn at least Rs. 9 to 10 lacs in a year.
Table of Contents
- Diploma in Optometry: Course Highlights
- What is Diploma in Optometry?
- Why study?
- Diploma in Optometry: Admission Process
4.1 Eligibility
4.2 Entrance Exam
Diploma in Optometry: Course Highlights
| Course Level | Diploma |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Examination Type | Semester System /Year wise |
| Eligibility | Diploma degree |
| Admission Process | Merit-Based / Entrance Exam |
| Course Fee | INR 10,000 to 2,00,000 |
| Average Starting Salary | INR 2,00,000 to 6,00,000 |
| Top Recruiting Companies | Indian Red Cross Society, Indian Nursing Council, State Nursing Councils, Kailash Hospital, Metro Hospital, Max hospital, AIIMS, Shroff eye hospital, Fortis Hospital, Orphanage, etc. |
| Top Recruiting Areas | Academic Institutes, Optical Manufacturing Industry, Public Health Centres, Defence Services, Eye Care Centres, Government Hospitals, etc. |
| Job Positions | Customer Care Associate, Optometrist Assistant, Asst. Nutrition Officer/Data, Private Practitioner, Professor, Trainee Optometrist, Vision Consultant, Optometry Researcher, |
Diploma in Optometry: What is it About?
The Diploma in Optometry course includes eye and related structures, as well as vision, visual systems & vision information processing in humans. Optometrists are primary healthcare providers for the Diagnosis, management, and treatment of Eye Diseases, Refractive disorders.
Diploma in optometry course applicants are familiar with the inspection and analysis of numerous refractive conditions and oversee Optical guides, for example, Optical Glasses, Contact lenses, and other Remedial guides.
- Students can also specialize in the field of Contact lenses, Orthotics, Low Vision Aids, Sports Vision, Pediatric Optometry, Behavioral Optometry, etc. The course is a career offering in nature that opens many scopes for the applicants both in the private and government sectors.
- The course is beneficial to produce professionally competent optometrists who are in good demand. After completing this program, students will have the knowledge and skills to contribute effectively to the optical or healthcare trade.
- Diploma in Optometry course provides the knowledge of basic biomedical, behavioral and clinical sciences, especially as it associates with vision and the eye. Candidates are then allowed to work with vision care hospitals as a part of the team with fellow ophthalmologists and optometrists who contribute towards the prevention of blindness.
Why Study Diploma in Optometry?
Diploma in Optometry is a course for students interested in eyes and related stuff. Here are some of the key benefits one can get while pursuing the course.
- The course is beneficial to produce professionally competent optometrists who are in good demand. Due to the high prevalence of myopia in children and a rapidly aging population, quality optometrists have been highly sought after.
- After completing this program, you will have the knowledge and skills to contribute effectively to the optical or healthcare trade.
- The course gives the knowledge of basic biomedical, behavioral and clinical sciences, especially as it relates to vision and the eye.
- Candidates are allowed to work with vision care hospitals as a part of a team with ophthalmologists and optometrists and contribute towards the prevention of blindness.
Diploma in Optometry: Admission Process
- Admissions in the course of optometry are based on the medical entrance examination.
- Many institutions and colleges offer admission based on national level or state level examinations like NEET (National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test), AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Science), etc.
- Some other universities organize their entrance test for admission procedures.
Diploma in Optometry: Eligibility Criteria
The minimum qualifications required by students to pursue a Diploma in Optometry are
- Candidates must have passed Class 12 or equivalent qualification from any recognized board in India.
- Candidates must have passed class 12th examination with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/ Mathematics as their main subjects.
- Candidates must score at least 50% marks or above in the qualifying exam.
Diploma in Optometry: Entrance Exams
| Entrance Exams | Application Dates | Exam Dates |
|---|---|---|
| AJEE | To be Announced | To be Announced |
| NEET | First week of March 2024 | May 5, 2024 |
| MNS Entrance Exam | To be Announced | To be Announced |
Diploma in Optometry: Syllabus
| Year I | Year II | Year III |
|---|---|---|
| General anatomy, Physiology, and Pathology | Clinical Optometry - General Examination 1 | Business Management for Optometry Practice |
| Biochemistry | Ocular Pharmacology | Ophthalmic Dispensing |
| Ocular Anatomy | Clinical Optometry- Instrumentation | Clinical Practice 1 |
| Ophthalmic Optics | Contact Lens Fitting | Contact Lens Clinical Practice 1 |
| General Optics | Ocular Pathology | Clinical Practice 2 |
| General and Ocular Microbiology | Clinical Optometry - General Examination 2 | Contact Lens Clinical Practice 2 |
| Ocular Physiology | Assessment and Management of Binocular Vision | Community Health Optometry |
| Physiological and Visual Optics | Contact Lens Care and Complications | Basic Psychology and Communication |
| Fundamentals of Contact Lens | Clinical Methodology and Statistics | Research Project |
| Introduction to Academic Writing | NA | NA |
Diploma in Optometry: Top Colleges
| Name of Institute | City | Average Fees |
|---|---|---|
| All India Institute of Medical Sciences | New Delhi | INR 743 |
| Sri Ramachandra University | Chennai | INR 1,00,000 |
| SRM University Kattankulathur Campus | Kanchipuram | INR 76.250 |
| Bharati Vidyapeeth University | Pune | INR 75,000 |
| NIMS University | Jaipur | INR 74,000 |
| Sharda University | Greater Noida | INR 1,30,000 |
| Manipal University | Manipal | INR 1,26,000 |
| Vinayaka Missions University | Salem | INR 45,000 |
| Teerthanker Mahaveer University | Moradabad | INR 30,200 |
| Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences | Vijayawada | INR 33,750 |
| Shree Guru Gobind Singh Tricentenary University | Gurgaon | INR 1,50,000 |
| Paramedical College | Durgapur | INR 1,48,000 |
| Amity University | Gurgaon | INR 1,01,000 |
| Galgotias University | Greater Noida | INR 60,000 |
| Assam Down Town University | Guwahati | INR 75,000 |
| Dr. DY Patil Vidyapeeth | Pune | INR 70,734 |
| Chandigarh University | Chandigarh | INR 67,000 |
| Jayoti Vidyapeeth Women's University | Jaipur | INR 50,000 |
| Jamia Hamdard University | New Delhi | INR 59,500 |
Diploma in Optometry: College Comparison
| Parameter | Christian Medical College | King George's Medical University | SRM Institute of Technology |
|---|---|---|---|
| Objective | Christian Medical College, is one of the top medical colleges in the country and was established in 1918. | King George's Medical University is one of the prime universities of India that offers UG, PG, and Ph.D. courses through its Departments and Affiliated Colleges | SRM, Kanchipuram formerly SRM University is one of the top-ranking universities in India with over 20,000 students and more than 2600 faculty across all the campuses. |
| Location | Vellore | Lucknow | Chennai |
| Average Annual Fee | INR 7,670 | INR 1,38,000 | INR 65,000 |
| Average Annual Package | INR 1,60,000 | INR 7,80,000 | INR 4,00,000 |
Distance Education in Diploma in Optometry
The students who are not able to pursue the course by going to the colleges regularly due to some family problems or other issues and still have an interest in the course can complete their education by choosing the distance education mode for the diploma in optometry.
The distance course is available in the following colleges:
- IGNOU, Delhi
- NIMS University
- Valley of Technical Institute
- Aligarh Institute Of Paramedical Sciences, Aligarh
- MIPS, Ujjain
Diploma in Optometry V/s Bachelor in Optometry: Which is Better?
| Parameters | Diploma in Optometry | Bachelor In Optometry |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 3 Years | 4 Years |
| Focus Area | The course is designed to teach students the different concepts of eye-health, diseases, diagnosis, and treatment of Human eyes. it is a career-oriented program rather than an academic-oriented course. | In the B Optometry course, a student will go through various aspects relating to the study of human eyes, illnesses, and diseases of the eye. The degree has been designed with a complete focus on assisting the academic proficiency of the students. |
| Admission Criteria | State or national level entrance examination. | State-level or national level entrance examination score. |
| Eligibility Criteria | Merit-Based / Entrance Exam | Merit-Based / Entrance Exam |
| Average Course Fees | INR 10,000 to INR 2,00,000 | INR 10,000 to INR 2,00,000 |
| Job Options | Vision Consultant, Optometry Researcher, Optometrist Assistant, Customer Care Associate, Private Practitioner, Professor, Trainee Optometrist, Asst. Nutrition Officer/Data | Vision Care Associate, Private Practitioner, Optometrist, Trainee Optometrist, Vision Consultant, Optometry Researcher, Optician |
| Areas of Employment | Academic Institutes, Optical Manufacturing Industry, Public Health Centres, Defence Services, Eye Care Centres, Government Hospitals, etc. | Eye hospitals, clinics, and opticians’ outlets or with multinational vision care companies. |
| Average Package | INR 2,00,000 - 6,00,000 | INR 3,00,000 - 4,35,000 |
Diploma in Optometry: Job Profiles
An Optometrist has different vocation openings. Some of the most common job profiles that a Diploma degree holder in Optometry can opt for are mentioned in the table below:
| Job Profile | Job Description | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Sales executives | Sales executives are the key purpose of contact between an association and its customers: answering queries and presenting new items. Their work incorporates: arranging sales visits. | INR 3,04,706 |
| Optometry Technician | Optometric professionals/technicians play out an assortment of undertakings to help the optometrist in eye examinations and corrective procedures. They have a record of medicinal histories and help in patient’s vision examinations. They likewise help with tests that assist in the diagnosis and treatment of an infected eye. | INR 2,84,736 |
| Professors | Professor’s profession is to teach understudies in a wide range of territories at the post-secondary level. They deliver scholarly articles, perform research, and instruct. | INR 9,13,657 |
| Lab Technician | A lab tech is a guy who plays practical hands-on work in research laboratories. Lab specialists work in different fields which incorporate medicinal services, industry, research, and educational institutions. | INR 20,622 |
| Office assistants | Office assistants' occupations generally incorporate assignments like writing, typing, filing, taking inventory, documenting, keeping records, and arranging checks. They may likewise plan, prepare documents, process mail, and answer phones. | INR 1,67,894 |
Diploma in Optometry: Future Scope
After successful completion of Diploma in Optometry, the candidates are employed in several positions as listed below:
- They can work on a free premise by setting up their eye facility, optical shop, lens manufacturing unit, and so forth. They can also work with Optician showrooms, Eye doctors, Contact Lens and Ophthalmic lens industry, hospital Eye departments, etc.
- Optometrists can likewise look for work with any MNC dealing in eye care products as expert service executives or take up teaching jobs as a profession.
- They can seek advanced education or can go for additional exploration in the field of Optometry.
- Optometrists can take up the work of occupational health professionals in the vision care of industrial specialists.
- They can also join established optical shops and firms fabricating focal lenses and ophthalmic instruments, if interested.
- Optometry professionals can also don marketing roles within the vision care sector. They may market lenses, ophthalmic instruments, etc.
Diploma in Optometry: FAQs
Ques. What is the course duration of the Diploma in Optometry?
Ans. The Diploma in Optometry has a course duration of three years which is further divided into six semesters.
Ques. Is there any entrance exam for admission to Diploma in Optometry course?
Ans. No, there are no entrance exams conducted for admission to the Diploma in Optometry. The admission is either based on merit scored in the exam or the University- based entrance test.
Ques. What are the job opportunities for the students after the completion of the Diploma in Optometry course?
Ans. There are various opportunities for the students after pursuing the Diploma in Optometry course, some are:
- Professors
- Vision Consultant
- Optometry Technician
- Lab Technician
- Office assistants
- Private Practitioner
- Trainee Optometrist
- Optometry Researcher
- Optometrist Assistant
- Asst. Nutrition Officer/Data
Ques. What is the educational qualification required for admission to the Diploma in Optometry course?
Ans. For admission to the Diploma in Optometry course, candidates must have passed 10+2 or an equivalent examination in Science stream with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and/or Mathematics from a recognized board with a good percentage of marks in the aggregate.
Ques. What should I choose after completing a diploma’s degree in Optometry? Post-graduation, or Job?
Ans. Diploma in optometry degree holders can go for various advanced courses in Orthotics, Low Vision Aids, Sports Vision, Pediatric Optometry, Behavioral Optometry, etc.
They can also go for a job in their respective field. It depends on the candidate's interest that they want to do the job or they want to study further. However job options are considered more beneficial after a postgraduate degree.
Ques. What are the top recruiting companies for Diploma in Optometry?
Ans. The top recruiting companies are:
- Indian Red Cross Society
- Indian Nursing Council
- State Nursing Councils
- Kailash Hospital
- Metro Hospital
- Max hospital
- AIIMS
- Shroff eye hospital
- Fortis Hospital
- The orphanage, etc.
Ques. What is the work of an Optometrist?
Ans. Optometrists are primary health care providers for the Diagnosis, management, and treatment of Eye Diseases, Refractive disorders.
The students are taught the different concepts of eye-health, diseases, diagnosis, and treatment of Human eyes.
The graduates are hired in professions such as Trainee Optometrist, Vision Consultant, Optometry Researcher, Nutrition Officer/Data Assistant, Junior Medical Coder, Lens Consultant, Optometrist Assistant, Asst. Office Assistant, Optometry Technician, etc.
Ques. What is the average fee for the Diploma in Optometry program in India?
Ans. The average annual fee to pursue this program ranges from INR 1,00,000 to INR 3,00,000 depending on the college/ university one is seeking admission to.
Ques. What is the field of areas a student can explore after completing a Diploma in optometry?
Ans. There are several areas where the student can perform the practice or explore, which are:
- Academic Institutes
- Optical Manufacturing Industry
- Public Health Centres
- Defense Services
- Eye Care Centres
- Government Hospitals, etc.
Ques. What is the admission procedure for admission to the Diploma in Optometry program?
Ans. For Diploma in Optometry, few colleges admit students based on merit in 10+2 whereas few colleges conduct their entrance exams.
Candidates are strictly advised to check the college website and follow their pattern to learn about a particular college’s admission process.
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