Optometry

Optometry is a health care profession which involves examining the eyes and applicable visual systems for defects or abnormalities as well as the medical diagnosis and management of eye disease. Traditionally, the field of optometry began with the primary focus of correcting refractive error through the use of spectacles. Modern day optometry, however, has evolved through time so that the educational curriculum additionally includes intensive medical training in the diagnosis and management of ocular disease in countries where the profession is established and regulated.

Optometrists (also known as doctors of optometry in the United States and Canada for those holding the O.D. degree, or ophthalmic opticians in the United Kingdom) are health care professionals who provide primary eyecare through comprehensive eye examinations to detect and treat various visual abnormalities and eye diseases. Being a regulated profession, an optometrist's scope of practice may differ depending on the location. Thus, disorders or diseases detected outside the treatment scope of optometry are referred out to relevant medical professionals for proper care, more commonly to ophthalmologists who are physicians that specialize in tertiary medical and surgical care of the eye. Optometrists typically work closely together with other eye care professionals such as ophthalmologists and opticians to deliver quality and efficient eyecare to the general public.

The term "optometry" comes from the Greek words ὄψις (opsis; "view") and μέτρον (metron; "something used to measure", "measure", "rule"). The word entered the language when the instrument for measuring vision was called an optometer, (before the terms phoropter or refractor were used). The root word opto is a shortened form derived from the Greek word ophthalmos meaning, "eye." Like most healthcare professions, the education and certification of optometrists is regulated in most countries. Optometric professionals and optometry-related organizations interact with governmental agencies, other healthcare professionals, and the community to deliver eye- and vision-care.

* Description and images provided by Wikipedia under CC-BY-SA 3.0 license .

Scholarships for Optometry Majors

Bullet name award deadline Link
 

Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Up to $30,000 Varies See Details
 

Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

award

Up to $30,000

deadline

Varies
See Details
 

UNCF/CVS Health Foundation Health Care Careers Scholarship

UNCF, Inc

$10,000 April 29, 2023 See Details
 

UNCF/CVS Health Foundation Health Care Careers Scholarship

UNCF, Inc

award

$10,000

deadline

April 29, 2023
See Details
 

Board of Trustees Scholarship - Salus University

Salus University

$6,500 Varies See Details
 

Board of Trustees Scholarship - Salus University

Salus University

award

$6,500

deadline

Varies
See Details
 

Excellence in Allied Health Scholarship - NMC

Nebraska Methodist College

$6,000 Varies See Details
 

Excellence in Allied Health Scholarship - NMC

Nebraska Methodist College

award

$6,000

deadline

Varies
See Details
 

ANTHC Board of Directors Scholarship

Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium

$5,000 March 31, 2023 See Details
 

ANTHC Board of Directors Scholarship

Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium

award

$5,000

deadline

March 31, 2023
See Details
 

Thermo Fisher Scientific Antibody Scholarship

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

Up to $10,000 May 02, 2023 See Details
 

Thermo Fisher Scientific Antibody Scholarship

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

award

Up to $10,000

deadline

May 02, 2023
See Details
 

Kaiser Permanente Health Equity Scholarship

UNCF, Inc

Up to $5,000 June 14, 2023 See Details
 

Kaiser Permanente Health Equity Scholarship

UNCF, Inc

award

Up to $5,000

deadline

June 14, 2023
See Details
 

Military Spouse Scholarship

Western Governors University

Up to $4,000 Varies See Details
 

Military Spouse Scholarship

Western Governors University

award

Up to $4,000

deadline

Varies
See Details
 

American Indian Medical Scholarship Award

National Society of the Colonial Dames of America (NSCDA)

$3,000 June 01, 2023 See Details
 

American Indian Medical Scholarship Award

National Society of the Colonial Dames of America (NSCDA)

award

$3,000

deadline

June 01, 2023
See Details
 

Memorial Foundation Scholarship - SWIC

Southwestern Illinois College

$2,500 Varies See Details
 

Memorial Foundation Scholarship - SWIC

Southwestern Illinois College

award

$2,500

deadline

Varies
See Details