Doctors of optometry are health care professionals who examine, diagnose, test and manage diseases and disorders of the eye and its associated structures. In addition to their routine duties, optometrists regularly diagnose systemic diseases such as diabetes and arteriosclerosis during their examinations. Most optometry schools, like other health professional schools, have a four-year program that is equally devoted to in-class lecture and clinical experience. In order to get into optometry school, potential students must take the Optometry Admission Test (OAT).
OAT
The Optometry Admission Test is a standardized test designed to measure general academic ability and comprehension of scientific information. The OAT is computerized and prospective students may take it an unlimited number of times. However, only scores from the four most recent attempts, as well as the number of times the test was taken, will be reported. The test consists of four sections: survey of the natural sciences, reading comprehension, physics, and quantitative reasoning. Success on the test requires at least one year of collegiate education, including courses in biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics. All schools of optometry require the OAT.
