About Us

Our Students

Students at the Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science not only become clinicians (OD) and researchers (PhD), but also complete our program with an understanding of the diseases they diagnose and the treatments they prescribe. We take pride in our ability to train technically proficient doctors and researchers who are also well educated in clinical and basic science.

Our Faculty

The faculty at Berkeley Optometry & Vision Science constitute a prestigious group of educators and researchers. We have a long tradition of groundbreaking investigation into the origins of vision disorders and the development of improved diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of visual defects and diseases. Many of our faculty have international reputations and are recipients of prestigious awards.

Our Clinical Faculty offer the highest level of expertise and experience in clinical education and training, providing valuable experience for the practice of optometry and introducing students to the very latest in new technology, diagnosis, and treatment.

Our Curriculum

Our faculty are dedicated to preparing you to meet current and future needs for providing eye care to a diverse patient population in the twenty-first century. With this goal in mind, our curriculum is structured to offer you a comprehensive and intensive clinical training program complemented by a cutting-edge education in vision science.

You will acquire knowledge of cell and molecular biology, pharmacology, genetics, epidemiology of eye disorders, and state-of-the-art clinical technology. You will also have training in all clinical areas, including primary care and specialties such as binocular disorders, contact lenses, low vision, ocular disease, geriatrics, pediatrics, and refractive surgery.

Clinical Training

A key element in the Berkeley Optometry program is the provision of in-depth clinical experience in a variety of settings. Our students are trained and see patients at two campus clinics, ten satellite clinics, seven VA clinics, and 24 external training clinics across the country. These clinics, in total, have 220,000 patient visits per year. To put that in perspective, we see 4,230 patients each week, or 604 per day.

Research

Vision is one of our most valuable senses. At Berkeley Optometry & Vision Science, world-renowned faculty are a exploring a rich array of research questions relating to how we see and why vision fails. The answers have the potential to change lives. Berkeley Optometry & Vision Science hosts the campus wide Vision Science Program, offering unique opportunities for PhD and post-doctoral research.

For those OD students interested in exploring the possibilities of research during their optometric education, we offer a summer program sponsored by the National Eye Institute (NIH). In addition, post-OD students may choose to apply to our Residency Program or Graduate Research Program.