About

We are more than eye exams and contact lenses

The Indiana University School of Optometry is home to the most comprehensive and advanced eye health education, research, and patient care available, with an emphasis on outreach to our most vulnerable populations.

Our focus is on making eye health a priority, advancing the field of vision through research, improving the availability of services to everyone who needs them, and training future generations to do the same through our cutting-edge curriculum. This has been our mission and promise since day one.

Accreditation

The IU School of Optometry is accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association, the official optometric agency recognized by the National Commission on Accreditation.

Read about our standards and expectations
A row of athletes test concussion detection tools developed at the IU School of Optometry. In the foreground, a closeup image of an eye is displayed on a laptop computer.

Research that changes the field

Our leading vision science research attracts scholars and researchers from around the world, and our faculty write the textbooks that other optometry schools teach.

Explore research areas
A female optometry student in a white jacket examines a patient's eyes.

Patient care that changes lives

We care for patients of all kinds—from students to senior citizens to the underprivileged—to address health needs that extend well beyond their eyes and to help our patients live the lives they envisioned.

See our services
Joseph Bonanno, professor and dean

A message from the dean

IUSO provides a premier learning and training environment. Our faculty have developed an innovative curriculum that blends lecture, flipped classroom, problem-based learning, and online approaches that maximize learning efficiency along with interprofessional learning experiences with medicine, dentistry, nursing, and pharmacy students.

Our clinics in Bloomington and Indianapolis use state-of-the-art technology and provide diverse experiences that are complemented by the many local, national, and global outreach experiences that care for the underserved.

IU was one of the first optometry schools to use externships in the 1970s. As a result we have a long and very robust set of fourth-year rotation opportunities. IUSO externs are in great demand, which explains why we have a waiting list of extern sites that want to join IUSO.

However, the most important part of a school is the faculty. Basic science courses at IUSO are taught by Professors who are at the cutting edge of research in vision science and are well-funded by Federal and Industry sources and can provide research experiences for the interested optometry student. Our clinical faculty are recognized nationally for their knowledge, teaching, outreach efforts, and clinical research. Inspiring students to provide what is best for the patient is a role that our faculty relish. This is reflected in the large proportion of graduates who go on to do advanced residencies. As a result, IUSO alumni are leaders in their local community, state, and national organizations.

Come for a visit and check out the IUSO vibe, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Sincerely,

  • Joe Bonanno
  • Professor and Dean

How our students performed on the National Board of Examiners in Optometry exam (2016–17)

85%of students passed Part 1 on the first try (compared to national average of 72.9%)

97.1%of students passed Part 2 on the first try (compared to national average of 87.6%)

99%of students passed Part 3 by graduation

96%of students passed all three exams by graduation

See how we’re shaping the future of eye care.