An optometry course trains you to test eyesight, find vision problems and prescribe glasses and contact lenses. After 12th with science you can study optometry as a diploma or as a bachelor’s degree (B.Optom or BSc Optometry), and later as a master’s. This guide explains each option, who can join, how long it takes, what you study, what it costs at Apollo Healthcare Academy, and the careers it leads to.
Optometry courses at a glance
| Diploma | Bachelor of Optometry (B.Optom, BSc Optometry) | Master’s (M.Optom) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Usual length | About 2 years | 4 years of study plus a 1-year internship | 2 years |
| Usual entry | Class 12 science | Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology | A bachelor’s degree in optometry |
| Leads to | Support roles in eye clinics and optical shops | Optometrist roles | Specialist, teaching and research roles |
Length and entry rules change from one college to another, so check them for the college you plan to apply to.
What is an optometry course?
It is a paramedical course that teaches you how the eye works, how to measure vision, and how to correct and manage common eye problems. You learn the science behind sight (optics, anatomy and physiology of the eye) and the clinical skills to examine patients. Colleges call the degree by different names, mainly B.Optom, BSc Optometry or Bachelor of Optometry. Compare the syllabus and the training, not only the name.
What does an optometrist do?
An optometrist is an eye-care professional who looks after vision and eye health. The work includes:
- Testing eyesight and checking how the eyes work together
- Prescribing and fitting glasses and contact lenses
- Spotting signs of eye disease and referring patients to an ophthalmologist
- Helping people with low vision and supporting children and older adults
- Working with the optical team that makes and adjusts spectacles
An optometrist is not a surgeon. Eye surgery and the treatment of eye disease belong to an ophthalmologist, who is a medical doctor.
Types of optometry courses: diploma, bachelor’s and master’s
Diploma in Optometry. A shorter course, usually around two years. It prepares you for support roles such as optometry assistant in an eye clinic or hospital, or work in an optical shop. Some universities let diploma holders join a bachelor’s course later, but the rules differ, so ask the university.
Bachelor of Optometry (B.Optom or BSc Optometry). The main route to working as an optometrist. It runs for four years of study followed by a one-year internship. Our optometry degree at Apollo Healthcare Academy is a five-year course of this kind.
Master’s in Optometry (M.Optom). A two-year postgraduate course for people who want to specialise, teach or do research.
Eligibility for an optometry course
The rules depend on the level and the college:
- Diploma: Class 12 science from a recognised board. Minimum marks vary.
- Bachelor’s: Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology at most universities, and some accept Physics, Chemistry and Maths students who study Biology as an additional subject. Minimum marks are usually between 45% and 60%, and the usual minimum age is 17.
- Selection: some universities admit on Class 12 marks and others run their own entrance test.
Eligibility for the Bachelor of Optometry at Apollo Healthcare Academy
- Class 12 (10+2) or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry and Biology
- At least 50% aggregate marks from a recognised board
- Age 17 by 31 December of the admission year
- Students from a PCM background who take Biology as an additional subject can also apply
Check the latest rules on the Apollo Healthcare Academy admissions page before you apply.
How long is an optometry course?
A diploma takes about two years, a bachelor’s takes four years of study plus a one-year internship, and a master’s takes two years. Our Bachelor of Optometry runs for five years across ten semesters. The last two semesters are internships.
What do you study in an optometry course?
A bachelor’s course starts with the basic sciences (anatomy, physiology, biochemistry), then moves into optics and the eye itself, and ends with clinical subjects such as contact lenses, binocular vision, low vision care, and paediatric and geriatric optometry. Practical training in a clinic runs alongside the theory.
This is the semester-wise subject list for our Bachelor of Optometry:
| Semester | Subjects |
|---|---|
| I | Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, Fundamentals of Physics and Mathematics, Medical Terminology and Record Keeping, Introduction to Healthcare Delivery System in India, Communication Skills, Computer Applications in Healthcare, Physical Optics, Introduction to Optometry, Nutrition and Visual Science |
| II | Medical Law and Ethics, Psychology, Sociology and Behavioural Sciences, Applied Biostatistics and Research Methods, Community Orientation and Clinical Visit, Professionalism and Values, Constitution of India and Human Rights, Environmental Sciences, Indian Knowledge Systems in Health and Wellness, General and Ocular Biochemistry, Geometrical Optics and Visual Science |
| III | General and Ocular Microbiology, General Pathology, General and Ocular Pharmacology, Visual Optics I, Ocular and Related Neuro Anatomy and Physiology, Ocular Disease I, Clinical Optometry Training I (Observational), Research Design and Methodology |
| IV | Optometric Instruments, Optometric Optics, Clinical Examination of Visual System, Visual Perception and Psychophysics, Visual Optics II, Ocular Disease II, Introduction to Quality and Patient Safety, Clinical Optometry Training II (Observational), Data Collection and Sampling Methods |
| V | Systemic Disease, Dispensing Optics, Geriatric Optometry, Paediatric Optometry, Diagnostics and Therapeutics of Anterior Segment Diseases, Innovation and Technology, Clinical Training I (Hands-on), Data Analysis and Interpretation |
| VI | Contact Lens I, Low Vision Care and Rehabilitation, Binocular Vision I, Diagnostics and Therapeutics of Posterior Segment Diseases, Optometry and Multidisciplinary Aspects of Health, Clinical Training II (Hands-on), Research Communication and Scientific Writing |
| VII | Contact Lens II, Binocular Vision II, Public Health and Epidemiology, Community Eye Health I, Clinical Training I (Advanced), Research Project I |
| VIII | Occupational Optometry, Practice Management, Data Science for Healthcare, Community Eye Health and Tele-optometry II, Clinical Training II (Advanced), Research Project II |
| IX | B.Optom Internship I |
| X | B.Optom Internship II |
Clinical training begins with observation in semesters III and IV, moves to hands-on work in semesters V and VI, becomes advanced clinical training in semesters VII and VIII, and the last two semesters are internships. The curriculum can be updated, so confirm the current list with the admissions team.
Optometry course fees
Fees depend on the level, the college and whether it is government or private, so one figure for every optometry course would mislead you. Ask each college for its full fee structure in writing, including exam, lab and hostel charges and its refund rules.
At Apollo Healthcare Academy, the tuition fee for the Bachelor of Optometry is ₹2.5 lakh per annum.
Scholarships are tuition fee waivers based on a composite score: half from the AHA Scholarship Test and half from your Class 12 aggregate. A score of 95 and above earns a 25% waiver, 90 to 94.99 earns 15%, and 85 to 89.99 earns 10%. Awards go in order of score until 10% of the intake is filled, so reaching a slab does not guarantee a waiver. The rules for the 2026-27 session are on the scholarship page. For what the fee includes and how to pay it, speak to the admissions team.
Bachelor of Optometry at Apollo Healthcare Academy
The Bachelor of Optometry at Apollo Healthcare Academy is a five-year programme that combines classroom learning with training in hospitals. It covers vision assessment, clinical diagnostics and optical technology, with clinical work building up year by year.
Our partner universities offer and award the degree, and Apollo Healthcare Academy provides the clinical training and career support. We add new centres from time to time, so check that page for the current list. You can also see all our degrees on the programmes page and the partner hospitals we work with.
We give students job and placement support. It helps you prepare and connect with employers, but it does not guarantee a job. The admissions team can explain how it works.
What to check before you join any optometry course
- Who awards the diploma or degree, and whether the course is recognised.
- Where the clinical training happens, when it starts and who supervises it.
- Whether the internship is included in the course length and the fee.
- The semester-wise syllabus, in writing, not only a list of subject areas.
- The total fee, with every charge and the refund rules.
- What placement support means. Ask what the college actually does, and be careful with promises of a guaranteed job.
Scope and careers after an optometry course
Graduates of our Bachelor of Optometry can work as:
- Optometrist
- Clinical Optometrist
- Contact Lens Specialist
- Low Vision Rehabilitation Specialist
- Paediatric Optometrist
- Ophthalmic Diagnostic Associate
- Vision Care Consultant
These roles are found in eye hospitals, multi-speciality hospitals, vision care centres, contact lens and ophthalmic clinics, rehabilitation centres, child eye care centres and optical retail chains. Diploma holders usually start in support roles in clinics and optical shops.
If you want to study further, you can do a master’s in optometry, specialise in contact lenses or low vision, or move towards community eye care and public health, clinical research, hospital administration or an MBA in healthcare management.
Is an optometry course right for you?
An optometry course suits you if you like science and optics, enjoy working closely with patients, and want a clinical career in eye care without going the MBBS route. Pick the level that fits your qualification and plans, compare the syllabus and the training before you decide, and ask the college for everything in writing. Read the full Bachelor of Optometry programme details, or speak to the team through the admissions page.
Frequently asked questions
What does an optometry course teach?
It is a paramedical course that trains you to test vision, prescribe glasses and contact lenses, and spot eye problems. It is offered as a diploma, a bachelor’s degree (B.Optom or BSc Optometry) and a master’s degree.
Can I do an optometry course after 12th?
Yes. After Class 12 science you can join a diploma or a bachelor’s course. Most universities ask for Physics, Chemistry and Biology for the bachelor’s. For our Bachelor of Optometry you need Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology and at least 50% aggregate marks.
Is NEET required for an optometry course?
Optometry is not an MBBS course, and many universities admit students to it without NEET, using Class 12 marks or their own process. Each university sets its own rule, so check it before you apply. For how admission works at Apollo Healthcare Academy, see the admissions page.
Can I do optometry with PCM?
Some universities accept Physics, Chemistry and Maths students who study Biology as an additional subject. At Apollo Healthcare Academy, students from a PCM background who take Biology as an additional subject can apply. The admissions team can confirm what applies to you.
How many years is the optometry course?
A diploma takes about two years, a bachelor’s takes four years of study plus a one-year internship, and a master’s takes two years. Our Bachelor of Optometry takes five years, including internships.
Is an optometrist a doctor?
Not a medical doctor. An optometrist is an eye-care professional who tests vision, prescribes glasses and contact lenses and spots eye problems. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who treats eye disease and performs eye surgery. Optometrists refer patients who need medical or surgical treatment.
What is the fee for the optometry degree at Apollo Healthcare Academy?
The tuition fee is ₹2.5 lakh per annum. Scholarships are available on a composite score, and the rules are on our scholarship page. The admissions team can tell you what the fee includes.
Does Apollo Healthcare Academy give placement support?
Yes. We give students job and placement support. It does not guarantee a job, and the admissions team can explain how it works.
Does Apollo Healthcare Academy offer a diploma in optometry?
Our optometry programme is the five-year Bachelor of Optometry. For questions about diploma options or lateral entry, the admissions team can tell you what is available.
