Diploma in Optometry Course, Admissions, Eligibility, Syllabus, Fees, Career

Diploma in Optometry is a three-year full-time diploma programme that deals with different concepts of eye health, diagnosis, diseases, and treatment of human eyes. This optometry course covers various topics under eye health such as psychology, retail management in optometry, and patient management.

Candidates pursuing this course must complete their class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology with a minimum 55 per cent aggregate from a recognised board of India. After completing a Diploma in Optometry, candidates can work as entry-level professionals in the medical and healthcare services sector.

There is no such widely known entrance exam for Diploma in Optometry admission and most colleges admit students based on their 10+2 scorecard. However, this is not always the case and universities can administer their entrance exams for the course admission. The Diploma in Optometry fees range from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 2.0 lakhs.

Highlights - Diploma in Optometry

Diploma in Optometry Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for a diploma in optometry are more or less the same for every institute that offers this course. Candidates are required to meet all the requirements specified by the admissions committee to secure a seat in the programme.

Candidates who fail to meet the eligibility criteria are disqualified from the admissions process. The diploma in optometry eligibility criteria are mentioned below:

• Prospective students must have completed their class 12 or equivalent with a 55 per cent aggregate from a recognised board in India.
• Candidates must have completed their class 12 with physics, chemistry, and biology as compulsory subjects.

Diploma in Optometry Admissions Process

The admission process for a diploma in optometry course is conducted mostly based on both merits. However, some colleges also conduct entrance tests for the same. The admission process is conducted in both online and offline mode across different colleges and institutions depending on the admissions committee.

The diploma in optometry admissions process consists of a few steps that must be followed by prospective students to secure admission into their desired programme.

• Candidates can start their application by filling up the application form either online or by paying a physical visit to the college.
• Most colleges allocate seats based on the scorecard of 10+2.
• Candidates having higher marks are prioritised first.
• Various universities organise their own entrance examinations for admission. One such university-level entrance exam is the IUET.
• Document submission and course fee payment are the last steps in the admission process.

Diploma in Optometry Cutoff

The cutoff for a diploma in optometry is defined as the minimum score that all applicants are required to score in the entrance examination or previous course of study. The cutoff is variable for every institute since it depends on how many students apply to a particular institute.

The cutoff is usually high for government colleges and relatively low for private colleges. Candidates interested in knowing the cutoff for any specific institution must contact their admissions office.

Skills Required for Diploma Course in Optometry

A diploma in optometry is a degree that requires students to have practical as well as theoretical expertise with utmost precision. There are various skills that a student with a diploma in optometry must possess to practise optometry with full efficiency and precision.
Some of the most important skills needed by a diploma in optometry students are mentioned in the table below:

• Observation skills
• Critical Thinking skills
• Precision with hands
• Interest in biology
• Analytical skills
• Communication skills
• Problem-solving ability

Diploma in Optometry Syllabus

The D Optometry syllabus is segregated into theoretical and practical subjects in which students are required to gain expertise. These subjects comprise core optical topics as well as other human biology topics. Students can find the complete diploma in optometry course syllabus mentioned in the table below:

Diploma in Optometry Fees

The fee structure for a diploma in optometry varies for every institution. Government colleges generally charge lower fees as compared to private colleges. The diploma in optometry course fees are around Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 2 lakh for the entire course duration.

Scope of Diploma Optometry Course

There is a huge scope of diplomas in optometry courses in terms of employability as well as higher academic studies. After completing the diploma in optometry course, students opt for higher education such as B.Optom, followed by M.Optom and PhD.

Candidates can choose to work in a free setup by setting up their own eye care facility, lens manufacturing unit, or optical shop. They can also choose to work in multinational companies dealing with eye care products as an expert or supervisor. In addition to this, students can take up various marketing roles within the eye care industry.

Career Options After Completing Diploma in Optometry

There are numerous career options available for candidates after the completion of a diploma in optometry course with better pay packages and facilities. Some of the related job roles are discussed below.

Sales Executive: A sales executive is a professional who is responsible for building contact between the company and customers. Some of the most important work of a sales executive includes answering customer queries and presenting products.

Optometry Technician: An optometry technician is a professional who is responsible for paying out assortments of undertakings to help optometrists during eye examinations and operations. He or She is responsible for keeping a record of the medical history of patients and helping them during their vision examinations.

Lab Technician: A lab technician is a professional who is responsible for performing practical hands-on work in laboratories during research and experiments. A lab technician is responsible for working in fields that include medical services, industry, research, and educational institutions.

Top Recruiters:

• Medtronic
• Stryker
• Scripps Health
• Philips
• Amway
• Max Healthcare
• Fortis
• Medanta
• Tata Memorial
• Apollo

Benefits of Studying Diploma in Optometry

There are various benefits of studying for a diploma in optometry and various reasons as to why one should study this course. This optometry degree is beneficial since it produces highly skilled and professionally efficient optometrists. Skilled optometrists are highly sought after since there is a rapid increase in myopia in children and an aging population.

A diploma in optometry is accurate to gain knowledge and skills in contributing to the optical healthcare industry. The course entails knowledge in students of basic clinical, biomedical, and behavioural sciences, particularly eye and vision care.

Diploma in Optometry Salary Trends

The salary one receives after the completion of a diploma in optometry is quite subjective and variable depending on the skills of candidates, job positions, and the company they are working for.

Source: Ambition Box

Top Diploma in Optometry Colleges in India

Various colleges in India offer admission to diploma in optometry programmes. However, some of these colleges are more popular than other institutions since they offer quality education as well as excellent placement opportunities. Candidates can find the list of top diplomas in optometry colleges in India mentioned in the table below:

Top Private Diploma Optometry Colleges in India

There are various colleges in India offering diplomas in optometry courses when it comes to private institutions. Some of these private colleges are more popular than others in terms of education quality, placemats, and practical exposure. Candidates can find the list of top private diplomas in optometry colleges in India mentioned in the table below:

Top Government Diploma Optometry Colleges in India

Not only private colleges but government colleges in India also offer D Optom courses. Some of them are listed below to help students along with their fee structure.

The opportunities for graduates are not limited and they can become optometrists and work as occupational healthcare professionals in eye care facilities with industrial experts. Graduates also have the option to work in local optical shops and companies that work in the fabrication of lenses and ophthalmic instruments.