World Optometry Day was celebrated on March 23rd at the Institute of Medicine in Maharajgunj, Nepal. Optometry involves measuring and correcting vision and treating eye diseases. The field began around 100 years ago with the first optometry licensure laws in the US. In Nepal, optometry education began in 1998 through a collaboration with the University of Auckland, New Zealand. Optometrists are primary eye healthcare practitioners who provide comprehensive eye exams, diagnose and treat diseases, and rehabilitate vision. They undergo a four-year Bachelor of Optometry program.

1. WORLD OPTOMETRY DAY
Institute of Medicine
Maharajgunj Medical Campus
Suraj chhetri
23rd March 2016

2. “…..the eye is the window of the
body through which it feels its way
and enjoy the beauty of the world.
Owing to the eye the soul is
content to stay in its bodily prison,
for without it such bodily prison is
torture.”
Leonardo da vinci (1452 –
1519)

3. Word optometry
 Comes from Greek word
 Opsis + metron
( opsis means view and metron means rule/ measurment)
 The root word opto derived from the
Greek word ophthalmus which
means eye

4. History
 “Those who don't know history will
repeat past mistakes”
 Optometry began about 100 years ago
when the first optometry licensure
laws were passed in US
 Optometry began with the
pronouncement “Let there be light.”

5. Origin
Tradesmen who entered the respective
professions
 Optometry – jewelers : they had the tools to
work on spectacles
 Medicine – barbers : they had the
equipment with which early surgeries could
be done
 Refracting opticians became known as
optometrists

6. EYE CARE PROFESSION
Optician
Ophthalmologi
st
Optometrist

7. Who is an optometrist?
 Optometrists are the primary
healthcare practitioners of the eye and
visual system who provide
comprehensive eye and vision care
 Refracting and dispensing
 Detection/diagnosis and management
of disease in the eye
Rehabilitation of conditions of the
visual system
World council of optometry (WCO)

8. Who are optometrist ?
 Graduates - from the proficiency
science or +2 background and has
completed the Bachelor of Optometry
or Vision science degree
Vision specialist

9. Optometry in Nepal
 B. Optometry – started in 1998 in
collaboration with University of Auckland,
New Zealand
 Four-year academic course
Optometry graduates of IOM
79 in number (14 batches)

11. WHAT DOES AN OPTOMETRIST DO?
Refraction
Contact lens
Orthoptics
Low vision
Perimetry
Electrophysiological test
Vision therapy
Visual rehabilitation

12. WHAT TYPE OF KNOWLEDGE
DOES AN OPTOMETRIST HAVE?
Basic science
Ocular science and applied optics
Ocular disease , ocular pharmacology
Visual science
Contact lens , low vision , binocular
single vision
Ophthalmic dispensing
Community science and research

13. FURTHER AFTER GRADUATION
OD (Doctor of optometry)
Masters in optometry
PHD
Fellowships
MPH (eye health)

14. OUR PASSOUT SENIORS
 Studying PHD 17 in number
+ PHD doctors 7 in number
 40% seniors are practicing at Nepal
where as 60% are in foreign country

15. THANK
YOU