Doctor of Optometry (OD)

Welcome

The College of Optometry offers an innovative Doctor of Optometry program that emphasizes optometric rehabilitation including neuro-optometry. This emerging specialty helps patients who have visual and perceptual problems as a result of brain injury, stroke, physical disability or neurological illness. Our emphasis on optometric rehabilitation also includes vision therapy, low vision rehabilitation, and care for vulnerable populations such as those with developmental disabilities.

As a WesternU graduate, you will also be prepared for full scope optometric practice. Whether you choose to work in a private or group practice, a hospital-based setting, community clinics, or any other setting, you will be prepared for a rewarding career helping people to improve their vision and to maintain and restore their eye health. Please take a moment to enjoy the informative and humorous video to the right; this student-created video won the “2010 Envision Video Competition” sponsored by the American Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO).

Why choose WesternU? We offer you:

  • A small, private, health-focused institution that fosters interprofessional learning
  • Early clinical training that develops professional and communication skills
  • Low student-to-faculty ratio
  • Consistently high graduation, retention and first-time board pass rates in existing programs – we expect the OD program to be no exception!
  • Long humanistic tradition of treating patients as people first; treating students as colleagues; and fostering camaraderie among students
  • Outstanding student support services including tutoring and disability resources
  • Diverse student body and rich array of student clubs and volunteer opportunities
  • Great Southern California location with tremendous clinical training opportunities as well as access to major cultural and recreational resources 

Accreditation 

We are pleased to announce that WesternU's College of Optometry was granted preliminary approval by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) on February 15, 2008. To learn more, visit our accreditation page

Learn More

There are many ways for you to visit campus to learn more about our programs and we encourage you to attend a WesternU Preview day. We also invite you to sign up for our electronic mailing list and "like" us on Facebook.