Doctor of Optometry

The Doctor of Optometry is a three-year program that combines on-campus teaching and clinical placements. You will be trained in the early detection, diagnosis, treatment and management of eye diseases and the rehabilitation of conditions of the visual system. The course content and teaching is based on the competency standards for optometrists in Australia and New Zealand, which are: professional responsibilities; communication; patient examination; diagnosis and management; and health information management.

In the first year, you’ll gain a thorough foundation of the vision sciences and begin to develop patient care skills. This strong base will underpin the development of your skills for optometry practice in year two. In third year you’ll benefit from extended clinical placements with industry partners in metro, regional and remote areas of WA, offering hands-on direct patient experience. 

UWA has partnered with Lions Eye Institute, Lions Outback Vision, SpecSavers, Luxottica and other optometry industry leaders to deliver the course and offer clinical placements across Western Australia.  

The Lions Eye Institute has clinics in up to four locations across Western Australia – Nedlands, Murdoch, Midland and soon to be Broome. It also houses the Lions Eye Bank, Lions Optics, Lions Outback Vision and the Lions Save-Sight Foundation WA.

Through these partnerships and placement opportunities, the Doctor of Optometry will establish Western Australia as global leader in the education of eye professionals, producing high-calibre optometrists with practical experience, research expertise and community focus.

Optometry is a skill in high demand within Western Australia and throughout Australia, particularly in rural and remote regions. By studying a Doctor of Optometry at UWA, there may be visa options available to allow you to stay in Australia for a short or longer period of time. Visas that may be of relevance to students who have studied Doctor of Optometry, include:

• Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485): Post-Study Work stream
• Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485): Graduate Work stream

A range of factors influence eligibility for these longer visa options, including:

• the duration of the course
• whether the studies are related to an occupation on the Skilled Occupations List (SOL), 2019/20 Graduate Occupation List (GOL), or an occupation in demand in one of the Australian states, for example Western Australian Skill Migration Occupation List. Optometry graduates are well position on these lists.*
• whether you have previous work experience in the occupation
• the sector of the course (ELICOS, trade certificate, bachelor degree, postgraduate diploma, master’s degree or doctorate)
• the physical location of the institute
• your age and level of English at the time of graduation
• the level of your studies

To seek further information about some of the options available, you are advised to consult the following Australian Government Visa list, as well as seek advice from officially registered Australian migration agents.

* Correct as at time of publication.

The Lions Eye Institute (LEI) is a not-for-profit centre of excellence that combines world class scientific research into the prevention of blindness with the highest level of eye-care delivery.  It incorporates one of Australia’s largest ophthalmic practices, including a Day Surgery unit, a Laser Vision Centre and Lions Outback Vision which will be accessible to our students during their clinical placements.

Students studying the DOpt will have the opportunity to work in close collaboration with the Lions Eye Institute’s scientists and clinicians on their research projects - which have a focus on early detection, diagnosis, treatment and management of eye diseases, and rehabilitation of ocular conditions. The Lions Eye Institute’s clear point of difference – underpinning its success, is its ability to translate science into practical outcomes coupled with technology and innovation leadership that save people’s sight.