Optometry Programs and Colleges in Nepal
Optometry education was introduced in Nepal in 1998 in collaboration with the University of Auckland, New Zealand, to meet the country's eye care needs. The program has successfully established human resources to provide comprehensive eye care, including optical and medical management services.
Over the past two decades, it has addressed the unmet needs of eye health care, improved accessibility and quality of eye care, and advanced public eye health, particularly for schoolchildren, the elderly, and marginalized communities. Additionally, the program has significantly contributed to eye and vision research, with many graduates pursuing doctorates and academic positions globally.
B. Optometry Education in Nepal
For nearly two decades, optometry training in Nepal was available only at the BP Koirala Lions Centre for Ophthalmic Studies (BPKLCOS), Institute of Medicine, Kathmandu. Initially, the annual intake was six students, which increased to ten in 2016. Tribhuvan University is running a Bachelor of Optometry program at Maharajgunj Medical Campus. Due to the limited seats, many students sought optometry training in private institutions in neighboring India.
More recent establishments of the Bachelor of Optometry and Vision Science program at the National Academy of Medical Sciences and the Bachelor of Optometry (2018) and Master of Optometry (2019) programs at Pokhara University have substantially increased the current intake of optometry students. Another university, Purbanchal University, is also on the verge of introducing a Bachelor of Optometry program. As of 2024, more than 1400 optometrists have been registered in the Nepal Health Professional Council (NHPC), with nearly 1300 graduates from India.
All four optometry schools in Nepal run a 4-year undergraduate (Bachelor's) program. Pokhara University also offers a 2-year Master of Optometry course at the postgraduate level. The Medical Education Commission conducts common entrance examinations (MECEE-BL) and allocates students to different schools according to their matched merit. Students should pass and get competitive marks in MECEE-BL to be eligible to study B. Optometry program.
Top Bachelor in Optometry and Vision Science Colleges in Nepal
Scholarship
Sub-Sections (4), (6), and (7) of Section 17 of the National Medical Education Act, 2018 and Section 20 of the National Medical Education Regulations 2020 has outlined this process about B. Optom Scholarships in Nepal.
For details visit: Medical Education Scholarships Provision of the Government of Nepal
In 2024, the Government of Nepal allocated 54 Bachelor in Optometry (B.Optom) scholarship seats, with 30 (55%) designated for general scholarships and 24 (45%) reserved for various categories. Read more: Scholarships to Study B. Optometry in Nepal
Eligibility
- Must have studied Physics, Chemistry and Biology subjects from a recognized educational institution and passed with a minimum of 50% or 2.4 CGPA/GPA in the Proficiency Certificate Level or Grade 12 Science Group.
or
- Students from A-level or other similar programs with different grading systems should have studied Physics, Chemistry and Biology subjects and passed with a minimum of 50 percent or 2.4 CGPA/GPA Must have obtained equivalence letter.
or
- Proficiency Certificate Level / Diploma in Ophthalmic Science with minimum 50% marks in aggregate. Must have registered with Nepal Health Professional Council (NHPC).
or
- Proficiency Certificate/Diploma in Health Science (Medical Lab Technology or Ophthalmic Science or Dental Science or Pharmacy or Radiography or Ayurveda or Physiotherapy) with minimum 50% marks in aggregate and having studied Physics, Chemistry and Biology subject with minimum 50% in aggregate or 2.4 CGPA/GPA marks from National Examination Board and obtained the equivalence of class 12th science group. The candidate must have registered with the concerned council.
Job Prospects
Career Prospects
In Nepal, various cadres of human resources support the delivery of eye care, including ophthalmologists, optometrists, ophthalmic assistants, ophthalmic nurses, and orthoptists. Both ophthalmologists and optometrists are recognized as autonomous, regulated, and licensed healthcare professionals.
The World Council of Optometry defines optometry as "a healthcare profession that is autonomous, educated, and regulated (licensed/registered), with optometrists being the primary healthcare practitioners of the eye and visual system." Optometrists provide comprehensive eye and vision care, including refraction and dispensing, the detection/diagnosis and management of eye diseases, and rehabilitation of visual system conditions.
Optometry graduates in Nepal, both from local and international institutions, must register with the Nepal Health Professional Council (NHPC) to practice. Since 2021, the NHPC has implemented a licensure examination to standardize the professional quality of graduates, although this examination currently focuses on theoretical knowledge rather than clinical competencies.
Despite the growing number of optometry graduates and the establishment of new optometry colleges, the profession does not have a separate governing council, primarily due to the relatively low number of practicing optometrists and insufficient lobbying with policymakers. Optometrists are instead governed by the NHPC, which also published a code of ethics for optometry in 2013.
This code of ethics allows optometrists to practice independently or collaborate with other healthcare providers. It outlines their responsibilities, which include prevention, health education, promotion, maintenance, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, counseling, and consultation.
Although Nepalese optometrists do not have surgical privileges, they are permitted to perform several procedures such as punctal dilation, insertion of punctal plugs, removal of corneal and conjunctival foreign bodies, nasolacrimal duct syringing and probing, corneal and conjunctival swab collection, and minor lid and conjunctival surgeries.
Since its establishment in 2001, the Nepalese Association of Optometrists has advocated for the rights and benefits of optometrists in Nepal, striving to enhance their professional standards and working conditions in the country. The increasing number of optometry graduates and the establishment of new educational institutions signal a promising future for the profession. However, further development of clinical competencies and governance is necessary to realize this potential fully.