The education of optometry was started in 1998 to meet the shortage of eye health professionals in Nepal. Optometry is a health care profession that is autonomous, educated, regulated (licensed/ registered).
Bachelor in optometry (B. Optom) course was started with a three years program which was upgraded to four years in 2005 AD. Bachelor in optometry (B. Optom) consists of studies in the basic physical and life sciences, the optometric sciences including optics, ocular anatomy and physiology, visual science, ophthalmic optics, ocular pathology and diseases of the eye and visual system.
The final year of the optometry course consists of a clinical training program where emphasis is placed on the clinical application of the studies in the first two years to the management of patients with real visual problems.
Goal of the program:
- To produce competent, compassionate and community oriented optometrically trained manpower who is capable of providing vision care, identify ocular and related systemic illness to be referred to medical practitioners
Objectives of the program:
General
- To provide knowledge and develop practical skills in primary eye health care in the field of visual and optical science for high school graduates
Specific (To develop skills in):
- History taking and physical examinations
- Measuring visual functions
- General as well as specific eye examinations
- Correlating different structures and functions of human body
- Assessing the ocular health and recognize ocular signs of systemic diseases
- Prescribing and fitting appropriate visual aids
- Referring patients for medical and ophthalmic consultations as appropriate
- Undertaking independent scientific studies and critically analyze scientific literature
- Updating his/her knowledge and skills in optometry
- Planning and implementing community based vision care services
Salient Features
Eligibility
- Passed 10+2 Science or equivalent (with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology) with 50% aggregate in total marks or GPA 2.4 OR
- Secured the percentage equivalent to above eligibility in regards to the certificate level programs (eg. A-Level) with different grading system OR
- Applicants who have passed the Health Science Proficiency Certificate/Diploma(General Medicine, Medical Lab Technology, Ophthalmic Science, Dental Science, Pharmacy, Ayurveda, Radiography, Physiotherapy) with at least 50% aggregate in total marks AND
- Registered in Nepal Health Professional Council or Nepal Pharmacy Council or Nepal Ayurveda Council as per related educational program.
Admission Criteria
Provisions for Admission Process
In order to pass the integrated admission process, a minimum of 50 percent marks should be obtained.
There will be no negative marking for wrong answers.
Candidates who have been successfully selected in the admission process will have to submit the following original and 1/1 photocopy of the following documents to the concerned educational institution at the time of admission.
Certificate of qualification, Transcript and Character Certificate of 10+2 and SLC/SEE or Equivalent.
Copy of Citizenship / Passport.
Admit card of the Entrance Examination.
Documents submitted for reservation.
Certificate of Equivalence for the students with certificates from foreign institutions.
*Foreign candidates wishing to study in the vacated seat for foreign students must fill in the online application form mentioning the academic program of their choice within the time limit mentioned in this notice.
Provisions for Scholarships
As per Rule 20 of the National Medical Education Rules, 2077, out of the total scholarship seats to be awarded to the Government of Nepal at the undergraduate level, 55 percent of the seats will be distributed through open competition and 45 percent of the seats will be distributed on the basis of the following:
Female | 33% |
Dalit | 9% |
Aadibasi janajati | 15% |
Khas Aryan | 17% |
Madhesi | 12% |
Tharu | 4% |
Muslim | 2% |
Candidates from the Backward community | 4% |
Disabled | 2% |
Families of martyrs, families of disappeared persons, families of injured warriors, and conflict victims | 2% |
Examination Format
Question Type: Single best response type of multiple-choice questions
Option: Four Options (A,B, C,D)
Number Of Questions: 200
Full marks: 200
Cognitive Ratio:Recall:Understanding:Application-30:50:20
Duration: 3 hours
Weightage
S.N. | Content/Domain | Question |
a. | Zoology | 40 |
1. | Biology, origin, and evolution of life | 4 |
2. | General characteristics and classification of protozoa to Chordata. | 8 |
3. | Plasmodium, earthworm, and frog, | 8 |
4. | Human biology and human diseases | 14 |
5. | Animal tissues | 4 |
6. | Environmental pollution, adaptation and animal behavior, application of zoology | 2 |
b. | Botany | 40 |
7. | The basic component of life and biodiversity | 11 |
8. | Ecology and environment | 5 |
S.N. | Content/Domain | Question |
9. | Cell biology and genetics | 12 |
10. | Anatomy and physiology | 7 |
11. | Developmental and applied botany | 5 |
c. | Chemistry | 40 |
12. | General and physical chemistry | 15 |
13. | Inorganic chemistry | 10 |
14. | Organic chemistry | 15 |
d. | Physics | 40 |
15. | Mechanics | 9 |
16. | Heat and thermodynamics | 5 |
17. | Geometrical optics and physical optics | 5 |
18. | Current electricity and magnetism | 7 |
19. | Sound waves, electrostatics, and capacitors | 5 |
20. | Modern physics and nuclear physics | 5 |
21. | Solid and semiconductor devices(electronics) | 2 |
22. | Particle physics, source of energy, and universe | 2 |
e. | Contents from PCL level course of a specific subject | 20 |
23. | Contents from PCL/ diploma level course of a specific subject | 20 |
f. | Mental Agility Test(MAT) | 20 |
24. | Verbal reasoning | 5 |
25. | Numerical reasoning | 5 |
26. | Logical sequencing | 5 |
27. | Spatial relation/Abstract reasoning | 5 |
Total | 200 |
Job Prospects
Optometrists are the primary health care practitioners of the eye and visual system who provides comprehensive eye and vision care, which includes refraction and dispensing, detection/diagnosis and management of diseases in the eye, and rehabilitation of conditions of the visual system (World Council of Optometry).
Optometrists take care of the majority of the patients. Most patients with visual problems are well managed by optometrists and other patients having ocular diseases that need special care are referred to ophthalmologists and medical practitioners. Optometrists work mutually with other members of the eye care team such as ophthalmologists and ophthalmic assistants with a good understanding to provide quality services to the patients.
Prospect Careers
Curricular Structure
Bachelor in Optometry Curriculum Tribhuvan University
|
FIRST YEAR |
||
|
Full Marks |
||
|
Subjects |
Asst. |
Final |
|
Paper I Basic Concepts of Basic Sciences, Basic Concepts of Optics and Visual Science, Organ Systems Theory |
30 |
120 |
|
Paper II Ocular Systems, Visual Science, Optometric Science |
30 |
120 |
|
Paper III Introduction to Community Health Theory |
20 |
80 |
SECOND YEAR | ||
Full Marks | ||
Subjects | Asst. | Final |
PAPER IV Ocular Disease Theory | 20 | 80 |
PAPER V Optometry I, Optometry II, Ophthalmic Optics I Theory | 30 | 120 |
PAPER VI Advanced Visual Science, Binocular Vision I Theory | 20 | 80 |
PAPER VII Contact Lens I, Low Vision | 20 | 80 |
THIRD YEAR | ||
Subjects | Full Marks | |
Asst. | Final | |
PAPER VIII Ophthalmic Optics II, Contact lens II & Ocular Prosthesis Theory | 20 | 80 |
PAPER IX Binocular vision II, Paediatric Optometry | 20 | 80 |
PAPER X Low Vision II, Geriatric Optometry, Community Optometry | 30 | 120 |
PAPER XI Practical Paper | 20 | 80 |
Duration of Course:
The course is for four Academic years. Outline of course description is given below:
I First year:
Basic concepts of basic sciences
Basic concept of optics and visual sciences
Organ system
Ocular system
Visual system
Optometric science
Introduction to community health
Foundation courses
II Second year:
Ocular diseases
Optometry I and II
Ophthalmic optics I
Advance visual science
Binocular vision I
Contact lens I
Low vision I
III Third year:
Ophthalmic optics II
Contact lens II and ocular prosthesis
Binocular vision II
Low vision II
Pediatric optometry
Geriatric optometry
Community optometry
IV Fourth year:
Applied community optometry
Optometry project
Clinical optometry practice
Elective posting
FOURTH YEAR | ||
Subjects | Full Marks | |
Asst. | Final | |
PAPER XII Applied Community Optometry, Optometry Project Theory | 20 | 80 |
PAPER XIII Clinical Optometry Practice Theory | 20 | 80 |
PAPER XIV Practical Paper | 20 | 80 |