NAMS set to start Bachelor in Optometry and Vision Science

National Academy of Medical Sciences is set to start a four-year Bachelor’s degree programme on Optometry and Vision Science.

The programme aims to produce skilled manpower in the field and incorporates intensive medical training to diagnose and treat ocular diseases. “We have decided to start the course to facilitate our eye hospitals with skilled technical manpower,” said director at NAMS, Dr Bhupendra Basnet.

Anyone who has completed diploma in ophthalmic assistant or has completed 10+ 2 in science stream is eligible for enrolment in the NAMS optometry course.

Optometry is a health care profession that involves examining the eyes and other parts of vision systems for defects and abnormalities. It further assists in medical diagnosis of eye diseases.

The technological study of optometry and vision science helps to produce medical professionals who provide primary eye care through comprehensive eye examinations to detect and treat various visual abnormalities and eye diseases. “As the country is short on such skilled professionals, we decided to start the course,” Basnet further added.

Earlier, the Institute of Medicine, Maharajgunj, was the sole facility offering the course in optometry and vision science in the country. “The manpower produced by IOM is migrating to foreign countries. Therefore, it is necessary to produce skilled technicians for eye hospitals across the country, says Basnet.

Published on kantipur national daily of 11-Jan-2018

A version of this article appears in print on December 26, 2017 of The Himalayan Times.