University of Alabama At Birmingham

As an optometrist, your community counts on you for quality eye care. At UAB, we provide clinical training in pediatric optometry, low vision rehabilitation, and more. Also, our school ranks third nationally for vision research funding by the Association for Schools and Colleges of Optometry.

To begin your training, you'll focus on both basic science and vision science. Your courses will include topics such as optics, neuroscience, gross anatomy, eye movements, public health optometry, glaucoma, pediatric optometry, contact lenses, low vision rehabilitation, binocular vision, and more. Early in your education, you'll slowly begin to transition to the clinical portion of your curriculum, where you'll train with actual patients. Finally, during your last year, you'll be completely focused on clinical rotations both on and off campus. In fact, externships will be an integral part of your curriculum, ensuring that you participate in diverse clinical experiences before you graduate.

• Classes are small, with about 50 students per class, which allows participants to engage with the program's internationally recognized faculty.
• Students, faculty, and residents examine nearly 22,000 patients per year through student organization outreach and Community Eye Care, which is the mobile component of UAB Eye Care.