One of our most precious gift from God is our sight. Our role as an Optometrist is essential in the early preservation and enhancement of one’s vision, despite the challenging effects of today's technology to our eyes. Our graduates must not only demonstrate an ethical and professional standard of practice but to also represent the biomedical knowledge required to enhance the quality of sight. Optometrist support individuals from cradle to maturity, people of all walks of life, individual or group, in a variety of service settings such as a hospital, centers for vision research, and public health that requires enhancing visual function, and fashion.

The Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Optometry is the four years degree program within the department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Guyana. Our mission is to produce a cadre of eye care providers that complements and supports the work of all other categories of eye care providers. The fully qualified Optometrists graduate will advance the creation of capacity to provide the fullest range of eye care in Guyana and the Caribbean region. This BSc Optometry degree is in the genre of the UK BSc Optometry degree with due recognition from the world body, the World Council of Optometry- See recognition page at http://www.worldoptometry.org/en/schools-of-optometry/latin-america.cfm/page/2/

The UG Optometry graduates will provide eye care services with the full comparable international standard. As graduates of the Optometry programme, the person is expected to process medical knowledge to understand the nature of eye disease and independent management of patient eye care needs, performing refractions and advise spectacles for all prescriptions, as well as to provide low vision assessment, and low vision-aids devices to patients. Optometrists also manage and treat binocular vision complaints, prescribe Contact lens, detect internal and external eye diseases and refer as necessary.

Today’s optometrists are ideally positioned to play a critical role in the battle against the chronic systemic disease, with active engagement in community health projects and service delivery for the less privilege general public. As a career opportunity, Optometry is a gratifying profession that allows the qualified person to make contributions to the well-being of the community while earning respect from patients, and other healthcare practitioners. With this to say, allow me to welcome everyone to the Optometry field of profession, “to restore sight, is an enriching experience”.

Dr. Genalin Ang

Coordinator

Optometry Programme