Course Background

The highest qualification for Optometry offered in Singapore was only at Diploma level before 2002. In an effort to raise the standards of primary eye care in Singapore, the MSc Clinical Optom degree awarded by Pennsylvania College of Optometry was introduced to Singapore in 2002 by the SOA.

For Diploma in Optometry holders, a BSc Optom degree is awarded as a bridging degree for the MSc Clinical Optom degree. This is in due recognition of the high quality of Optometric education provided in the Diploma in Optometry course conducted by Singapore Polytechnic. Diploma graduates will have to undergo additional modules that make up the bridging program.

 

Lectures and Lessons

Students in the B.Sc. in Optometry / M.Sc. in Clinical Optometry program will undergo Lectures and Clinical Sessions that are taught by lecturers and professors from Pennsylvania College of Optometry. The lectures are held on two to five days every month, lasting one whole day each.

Clinical Sessions are held twice locally, during the period of the entire course. Clinical Sessions takes up a whole day, and lasts for a week. Advanced Clinical Procedures and Specialized Diagnostic Techniques are fully taught by PCO lecturers.

The entire course spans a total of 3 academic years, and lectures covers from Ocular Pathology, Glaucoma, Contact Lens Complications, Molecular Biology, Epidemiology to General Pathology and Pathophysiology.

 

Clinical Training

Students will have to travel to PCO’s Campus at Elkin’s Park, Philadelphia, twice for Clinical Training on Patient Care. Each trip comprises 14 days of Patient Care, Lectures, and Research Presentations. Students will examine patients, diagnose their eye conditions, and recommend appropriate management, under the supervision of PCO’s experienced Optometric Clinicians.

 

Course Time Table
Please click on the icon to download the course time-table. pdf file

 

Course Fees
Please click on the icon to download the course fee schedule.. pdf file

Application Procedures

Interested applicants can print and fill up the application form, and prepare a bank draft of US$150 addressed to “Pennsylvania College of Optometry”. The application form and the bank draft can be sent to:

Singapore Optometric Association
c/o 1 Jalan Anak Bukit
#01-16B Bukit Timah Plaza
Singapore 588996
Attn: Mrs Michelle Leong, Operation Manager

Please click the icon to download the application form. pdf file
Please note that space is limited, and application will be handled on a first come first serve basis. Dateline for submission is 31 March 2009.

 

B.Sc. in Optometry Bridging Program Topics
(Diploma in Optometry holders only)

 

August 2009
Anterior Segment Case Presentations
Posterior Segment Case Presentations

January 2009
Clinical Diagnostic Procedures

September 2010 (early)
Geriatric Optometry Case Presentations
Pediatric Optometry Case Presentations
Optometric Ethics, Practice Management, Public Health, Research and Biostatistics

September 2010 (late)
Glaucoma Case Presentations
Contact Lens Case Presentations
Clinical Procedures Laboratory

M.Sc. in Clinical Optometry Program Topics

May 2009
Retina and Uveitis

June 2009
Medical Physiology

July 2009
Genetics, Molecular Biology, Metabolism, Microbiology
Ocular Anatomy & Physiology Review
Epidemiology

October 2009
General Pathology & Pathophysiology
Immunology

November 2009
Pharmacology Introduction
Systemic Pharmacology
Ocular Pharmacology

December 2009
Basic Systemic Diseases
Oculosystemic Diseases
Selected Topics in Disease

February 2010
Anterior Segment Disease
Corneal Injuries, irritants & Dystrophies
Sterile & Infectious Corneal Inflammations
Sclera & Episclera
Contact Lens Related Disorders
Corneal Topography
Refractive Surgery
Management of Pre & Post Refractive Surgery Patients
Contact Lens & Medications

April 2010
Clinical Diagnostic Procedures

June to July 2010 - PCO On Campus Training
Patient Care
Research Papers Presentations

July 2010
Lens, Cataract, Aphakia & Pseudophakia
Basis of Glaucoma
Diagnosis of Glaucoma
Optometry-Ophthalmology Glaucoma Co-management

August 2010
Neuroscience & Neuro-ophthalmic Disorders

October 2010
Pediatric Optometry
Vision training & Perception
Low Vision & Geriatric Optometry
Environmental Optometry
Issues of Eyecare in Singapore
Practice Management

November 2010
Case Presentations and Panel Discussion

March to April 2011 - PCO On Campus Training
Patient Care
Cases Presentations

Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) Program

The Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree is open for application to graduates of the Master of Science in Clinical Optometry degree program. This course is meant for prospective students who are interested in engaging the highest level of optometric education, with involvement in ocular diagnostic and therapeutics, as well as minor surgical procedures.

 

Master of Science in Clinical Optometry graduations will need to study the O.D. course for 2 years full time at the SU-PCO Campus in Philadelphia, USA. Completion of the O.D. degree, as well as passing the national board examinations in the United States will allow the graduates to practice the highest level of optometric standard in the United States. However, this does not automatically qualify one to practice in the USA, as he/she is still subjected to immigration requirements.

Singapore Accreditation

The MSc Clinical Optom degree is accepted by the Optometrists & Opticians board as an additional qualification. Graduates of this program will be able to apply to the OOB to list the MSc Clinical Optom degree in the Optometrist register, and will be allowed to use the abbreviation MSc Clinical Optom (USA) in their practice.

 

PCO Accreditation

SOA acknowledges the importance of the quality of an academic qualifications. Pennsylvania College of Optometry is accredited by the following agencies in the United States:

Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) of the American Optometric Association
Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA)

 

Singapore Civil Service

The Singapore Civil Service will consider any degree that is accredited by the home government of the country where the university is situated. Candidates with Degrees that are awarded by universities, which are accredited by the following agencies in the United States, will be considered for Civil Service in Singapore.

Middle State Association of Colleges and Schools
New England Association of Schools and Colleges
North Central Association of Schools and Colleges
Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Distance Education and Training Council (for Universities that only offers distance learning programs)

 

United States Embassy Support

SOA is pleased to have the U.S. Embassy's support in promoting PCO's B.Sc. in Optometry / M.Sc. in Clinical Optometry program, and acknowledging the Accreditation by the relevant authorities in the United States as stated above.

 

Registration with Ministry of Education

SOA is the registered local facilitator for the B.Sc. in Optometry / M.Sc. in Clinical Optometry program awarded by PCO. The program is registered with the Ministry of Educations as a Distance Learning Program (DLP), as the degree is awarded by an Overseas Institution.