Doctor of Optometry

Earn a Doctor of Optometry degree

The four-year professional Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree program includes all the clinical and practical facets of optometry, as well as the theoretical and fundamental aspects of vision science.

From day one, our students are working on clinical cases that bring together topics in vision science, optics, biology, disease, genetics, and physiology-pharmacology.

During the summer after your first year, you can participate in research with our faculty members in a broad range of topics, including optical imaging, early diabetes detection, color vision, and disease.

O.D. degree questions?

Would you like to attend an online webinar presentation about the Doctor of Optometry degree admission process or would you like to meet with an advisor online and discuss your application in a one-on-one setting?

Discover how

Just 20 months after entering the IU School of Optometry, you will be ready to examine patients. Clinical practice continues into the third year and culminates with four 12-week externships during the fourth year.

While earning your O.D. degree, you can also gain valuable business knowledge for your future eye care career by pursuing the Business Management Certificate for Eye Care Professionals. This will have you prepared with practical business intelligence, management skills, and research tools to run a successful practice in the eye care industry.

Interested in applying to the O.D. program and
the M.S. in Vision Science?

IUSO will provide a scholarship for a highly qualified optometry school applicant who is committed to completing the demanding rigors of both the OD degree and the MS in Vision science. This scholarship is for incoming students.

Learn more about the scholarship today.

Plan your degree

Application process

Degree requirements

Course descriptions

A male customer tries on a pair of black rimmed glasses at the Atwater Eye Care Center. He is looking in the mirror while being helped by a female staff member.
A woman stares into an Oculus Rift, a virtual reality headset and position tracking system.

Two eye care clinics—and patients of all kinds

Our students see patients of all backgrounds and ages in our two clinics: the Indianapolis Eye Care Center, located in the heart of the city, or the Atwater Eye Care Center in the diverse college town of Bloomington.

As an O.D. student at IU, you’ll learn how to perform an eye exam your first semester. Soon, you’ll start examining patients yourself, working alongside top doctors in primary care and specialty services, and addressing the full spectrum of conditions, from cataracts to diabetes.

The tools to grow your vision

An optometry student performs an eye exam

Externship opportunities

The IU School of Optometry is affiliated with more than 40 externship sites across the United States, so you will be able to complete your additional clinical rotations with recognized leaders in a number of specialty areas in any part of the country.

A male optometry student in shirt and tie holds up a binder of colored dot designs. The patient, a six-year-old boy, points to the page.

A residency just for you

Postgraduate residencies are a great way to sharpen clinical skills and get experience. IUSO's residency program extends to 14 different facilities across seven states. 15–20% of our O.D. students complete residencies.

Three male students in a classroom setting

Problem-based learning

Through our Integrative Optometry course, you will solve problems in clinical cases that relate to courses taught in optics, biomedical, and ocular biology modules. Students meet in small groups to discuss the problems, guided by a faculty member.

Two optometry students perform an eye exam on a female patient.

Practice team-based care

Through Interprofessional Education, you will strive to improve the standards of patient care and foster the highest quality of collaborative practice. The skills you learn will enable you to be a practice-ready healthcare professional.

Take a closer look.

Contact the Office of Student Administration

For Doctor of Optometry program admission questions or to schedule an advising appointment, please contact:

Office of Student Administration
Indiana University School of Optometry
800 E. Atwater Avenue
Second Floor
Bloomington, IN 47405

Phone: 812-855-1917
Fax: 812-855-4389
Email: iubopt@iu.edu

Looking for your transcripts or diploma?