WesternUCO

Located in Pomona, California, the Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry delivers a forward-thinking Doctor of Optometry (OD) program. This graduate-level program prepares healthcare professionals for comprehensive optometric care, emphasizing optometric rehabilitation and neuro-optometry. The curriculum is designed to meet the evolving needs of patients and the profession.

Mission Statement

As stated by westernu.edu, the mission of the College of Optometry is to “graduate caring, comprehensive health care professionals who will serve the needs of a diverse global society.” The program is built around the principles of visual system rehabilitation, neuro-optometry, and interprofessional collaboration. It supports the growth of the optometric profession by fostering innovation across education, patient care, and research, all while staying true to its commitment to societal service.

A Distinguished Faculty

The College's achievement is closely tied to its distinguished faculty, who contribute leadership in education and optometric service. The faculty is encouraged to innovate in teaching and participate in interdisciplinary research projects. The College is a scholarly environment where inquiry and knowledge exchange are at the forefront.

Graduates of the College are trained to excel in various clinical settings, including individual practices, hospital environments, group practices, and community-based clinics. Upon earning their OD degree, students are fully prepared to help individuals manage their visual health and improve their quality of life through effective optometric care.

A Diverse Student Body

The College is recognized for its competitive admissions process, which balances academic criteria with individual backgrounds and varied life experiences. In 2024, 26.6% of the entering OD class came from states outside California, and 2.1% represented international students. Over the past five years, students from thirty states have enrolled, reflecting the College’s national reach and commitment to diversity.

The Optometric Rehabilitation Program at Western’s College of Optometry

Founded in 2008, the College is firmly committed to the emerging field of optometric rehabilitation. The OD program was developed to help students address visual and perceptual challenges often associated with neurological events like stroke, traumatic brain injury, or degenerative conditions. The program also includes training in vision therapy, low vision services, and care for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Treating Patients at WesternU Health Eye Care Institute

Clinical practice plays a central role in college education. Students gain hands-on clinical experience at the WesternU Health Eye Care Institute, the College’s teaching facility in Pomona. Under faculty supervision, student interns evaluate and treat patients with various vision and eye-related conditions.

The Eye Care Institute offers both routine eye care and specialized services. Students participate in managing complex conditions such as diabetic eye disease, neuro-optometric disorders, and low vision. The training allows students to refine their clinical skills in real-world settings while serving the community.

Low vision rehabilitation helps patients maximize their remaining sight through specialized optical systems, adaptive tools, visual training, and adjustments in daily activities.

Neuro-optometric rehabilitation is focused on helping patients recover visual function after neurological trauma, including events such as car accidents, surgeries, falls, or strokes. The WesternU Health Eye Care Institute works closely with various rehabilitation professionals, including physical and occupational therapists, neuropsychologists, and providers at regional rehabilitation hospitals.

Fourth-Year Externship Program

The fourth year of the OD program includes a full-time externship, an essential phase in preparing students for independent practice. The externship provides exposure to real-world optometric and ophthalmologic care across various facilities and patient populations.

Externship sites include:

• Private Optometry Practices
• Ophthalmology Clinics
• Veterans Administration Medical Centers
• Indian Health Service Locations
• Armed Forces Health Facilities
• WesternU Specialty Clinics

Students in the externship program treat over 1,700 patients, allowing them to encounter various clinical conditions and improve their diagnostic and treatment capabilities. The experience enhances critical thinking, decision-making, patient communication, and collaboration with other healthcare providers.

In addition to clinical rotations, students complete a Practice Management course delivered through distance learning. This course covers foundational topics in the business aspects of optometry, preparing students to manage a clinical practice's financial and administrative responsibilities.

College of Optometry’s Core Values

As listed on westernu.edu, the College of Optometry upholds Core Values rooted in a tradition of humanism and dedication to accountability, collaboration, community engagement, integrity, and mutual respect.

These Core Values are expressed across four main perspectives:

• Public Perspective: The College is committed to narrowing the gap between advanced optometric care and underserved communities, making vision care more accessible.
• Profession Perspective: The program encourages unity within the optometric community and supports engagement with health policy leaders and decision-makers.
• Student Perspective: The College serves as a pathway for students to achieve their clinical excellence and ethical practice goals while contributing to the greater good.
• Faculty Perspective: Faculty are supported as educators, clinicians, and researchers who bridge professional knowledge with the needs of students, patients, and society.

Through its mission, academic rigor, clinical training, and foundational values, the Western University of Health Sciences College of Optometry remains dedicated to preparing optometrists ready to serve, innovate, and lead in vision care.