The Department of Optometry and Vision Science

University of Auckland New Zealand

Optometry and Vision Science 2005

The profession of optometry is evolving constantly with ocular therapeutics now within the scope of practice. Your studies in the department will equip you for the challenges you will face and the lifelong learning needed for a satisfying career. While the study of optometry and vision science has a professional focus, a key strand of science is maintained throughout the programme. By graduating with a BOptom you will be well prepared with the knowledge, experience and skills required to enter practice or to continue with graduate or other studies.

The Department had its beginning in 1965 within the Department of Psychology, and is now a separate Department within the Faculty of Science, located on the Grafton Campus. We are the only Optometry School in New Zealand, and one of four schools in the region accredited by The Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand. Our accreditation enables graduates to practice optometry in New Zealand and in Australia without the need to undertake additional examinations.

The Department uses a variety of teaching methods and has a variety of teaching venues to support the BOptom programme. In addition to work within the clinical facilities located on the Grafton campus, students work at other clinics and locations in the Auckland region. We also have an active post-graduate programme, with students pursuing research topics in a variety of areas of Optometry and Vision Science.

Final year students are encouraged to spend an extern period in private practice, at other Optometry Schools, or at other approved venues. Agreements have been reached with institutions in Australia, Canada, the United States, Hong Kong, India and Nepal for placement of students, offering a wide range of extern possibilities. The Department also has a strong commitment to research and offers study towards the Postgraduate Diploma in Science, and the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees.

Optometry as a Career
As a primary health care professional, an optometrist is specifically educated and clinically trained to examine the eyes and visual system, to diagnose vision problems or impairments, and to prescribe and provide treatment. After thorough examination, if necessary with advanced instruments, the optometrist must decide how various defects should be remedied, managed and treated. Optometrists work with other health
professionals including general medical practitioners and opthalmologists to ensure the best eye and vision health outcomes for the population.

With the current emphasis on good health and disease prevention, and the increased demands for vision care as a result of the ageing population, there is a continuing need for highly qualified optometrists. Optometrists must be able to communicate easily and effectively, particularly when providing special services to children, the elderly and the
partially sighted, and should possess a genuine desire to help people.

Optometry offers the opportunity to join a profession that is both personally challenging and financially rewarding. The majority of optometrists enter private practice. This offers favourable working conditions, regular hours without excessive emergency calls, the freedom to choose where to live and practise, with the added attraction of being a well rewarded professional. Optometrists may also practise in hospitals and clinics, or pursue careers in research and in industry. Opportunities also exist for those wishing to undertake postgraduate education, research and teaching, not only in New Zealand but also at overseas universities.

Postgraduate programmes are offered including the Certicate in Ocular Therapeutics, Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Optometry. Research is carried out in the areas of Clinical Optometry, Vision Science, Retinal Anatomy and Physiology and Visual Optics.

The Department of Optometry and Vision Science is one of 12 departments within the Faculty of Science, The University of Auckland.

The University of Auckland is located at the centre of Auckland City, the largest city in New Zealand. Auckland is bounded by two harbours, the Waitemata and the Manukau and enjoys a mild climate.

The Department believes that its activities should involve and benefit the community at large. To this end, the Optometry Clinic runs a satellite clinic in South Auckland where the community has had less access to eye and vision care.
Lecturers and tutors from this Department regularly give talks to various support groups and help train Vision and Hearing Testers in association with National Audiology Centre in Auckland.

The University of Auckland is ranked 36th in the world’s top 100 biomedicine universities and 67^th in the world’s top 200 universities (Times Higher Education Supplement, 2004).   

CONTACT

Department of Optometry and
Vision Science
The University of Auckland
Private Bag 92019
Auckland

Telephone: (64-9) 373-7599 Ext 86595
Facsimile: (64-9) 308-2342
E-mail: optometry@auckland.ac.nz

Website:

www.optometry.auckland.ac.nz www.auckland.ac.nz/opt/

UoA International Office

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