BSc (Honours) Optometry

at TU Dublin

Optometrists (Ophthalmic Opticians) are healthcare professionals who provide primary eye care services. They carry out eye examinations to diagnose vision defects, including myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, presbyopia and prescribe spectacles.
 

The optometrist’s eye examination will detect eye diseases such as cataract, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration, as well as ocular signs of systemic conditions such as multiple sclerosis, high blood pressure and diabetes. Patients are referred to doctors by optometrists if medical attention is required. Optometrists in Ireland do not treat eye disease, which is done by medical professionals.
 

The first year of this course focuses on science subjects necessary for optometric training. Clinical teaching begins in Year 1 with Vision Science, which will equip you with some of the core clinical skills necessary for a routine eye examination. The clinical training increases throughout the course.
 

In Years 3 and 4, you’ll learn how to apply your scientific knowledge in a modern, purpose-built clinic, the National Optometry Centre (NOC), using state-of-the-art facilities and equipment.
 

You’ll learn to: perform an eye examination to determine if spectacles are required; choose suitable spectacle frames and lenses; fit contact lenses, identify eye-related disease so that a patient may be managed and referred if necessary; carry out specialised clinics in Low Vision, Aged Vision, Paediatrics and Binocular Vision, and use specialised ophthalmic diagnostic and imaging instrumentation.
 

At the end of Year 4, you’ll spend five months (Jan-May) working in an optometric practice under supervision which will give you workplace experience and skills and enhance your employment prospects.