Study at a Top University in Malaysia to become a Qualified Optometrist

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Optometrists study at a university in Malaysia for at least 4 years and must participate in a period of assessed clinical training in practice, before being deemed to have the knowledge and skills needed to be registered. Students wanting in a good education in optometry should go to a top university in Malaysia that’s recognised by the Malaysian Optical Council. To choose the best university for optometry in Malaysia for your studies, students may contact us for advise and information. Read on to get a better understanding of optometry in Malaysia.

All optometrist in Malaysia must be registered with the Malaysian Optical Council. It is illegal for an unregistered person (other than a medical practitioner) to practise optometry in Malaysia. Upon completion of a Degree in Optometry, you will be able to register as an optometrist with the Malaysian Optical Council (MOC).

Optometrists in Malaysia are trained to examine the eyes to detect defects in vision, signs of injury, ocular diseases or abnormality and problems with general health, such as high blood pressure or diabetes. They make a health assessment, offer clinical advice, prescribe spectacles or contact lenses and refer patients for further treatment, when necessary. The job demand is high for qualified optometrists in Malaysia. Opticians in Malaysia cannot perform vision tests nor write prescriptions for visual correction. The Malaysian Government will require eye care providers to be trained as Optometrists therefore job opportunities will increase for Optometry graduates.

 

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All you need to know about Studying Optometry in Malaysia

Optometry is a career field filled with possibilities in Malaysia. Optometry offers flexibility, variety, gratification, good income, and freedom in choosing a location to practice – all while doing meaningful work.

Optometrists examine, diagnose, treat and manage diseases, injuries, and disorders of the visual system, the eye, and associated structures and their related systemic conditions. Optometrists care for their patients’ visual health similar to the way doctors care for their patient’s general health. An optometrist’s skill is based on an intimate knowledge of the workings of the eye and visual system. A variety of complex techniques and instruments complement an understanding of the patient’s needs.

An optometric examination begins with the optometrist taking a detailed case history, to determine what visual problems the patient may be experiencing, as well as other relevant information about their health and visual needs. The optometrist then performs a series of tests, some of which are carried out routinely and others when indicated by the patient’s case history and the results of other tests.

The consultation concludes with the optometrist’s diagnosis of the patient’s problem, explaining the diagnosis to the patient and deciding on appropriate treatment. Treatments can include prescribing suitable spectacles, contact lenses or eye exercises, or simply giving advice on lighting, visual habits or other issues.

An important part of an optometrist’s work is the detection and diagnosis of eye disease. When an optometrist detects a visual complaint which requires medical or surgical treatment the patient may be referred to an ophthalmologist.

The difference between an ophthalmologist, optometrist, and optician in Malaysia

The training and education required as well as the level of expertise for ophthalmologists, optometrists and opticians in Malaysia are different.

1. In order to become an Ophthalmologist, one needs to study the medical degree and then specialise in it. Medical practitioners who specialise in the treatment of eye disease and surgery are known as ophthalmologists. They may also be called eye specialists, eye surgeons or eye doctors. Optometrists refer patients needing surgery or treatment of some eye diseases to ophthalmologists. Ophthalmologists are Medical Specialists trained in eye and vision care, and are licensed to practice medicine and surgery.  Ophthalmologists diagnose and treat eye diseases and perform ocular surgery. To correct vision problems,  Ophthalmologists prescribe and fit eyeglasses and contact lenses.
2. Optometrists in Malaysia provide primary eye care specialising in visual health and eye care.

   

   Optometrists provide sight testing and correction as well as diagnosing, treating and managing vision changes.  The work of an Optometrist in Malaysia includes prescribing and dispensing corrective lenses, detecting certain eye abnormalities, and prescribing medications for certain eye diseases. They also diagnose, treat and manage vision changes. An Optometrist is not the same level as a doctor.

3. Opticians in Malaysia design, verify and fit eyeglass lenses and frames, contact lenses, and other devices to correct eyesight. Opticians in Malaysia cannot perform vision tests nor write prescriptions for visual correction. The Malaysian Government will require eye care providers to be trained as Optometrists therefore the job demand for Opticians will decrease.

Who should study Optometry in Malaysia?

A good optometrist will enjoy working with people of all ages and have a genuine desire to help their patients.A strong academic background is needed, as optometry courses are challenging and generally have limited places.Once in practice, optometrists need to have an interest in continued learning and professional development. This should include clinical knowledge to help in patient care and practice management to further develop business acumen.

Studying Optometry in Malaysia

Caring for people’s vision through a career in optometry is rewarding. Most new graduates work initially as employees of optometrists in private practice, with large optical chains, in public clinics and occasionally with ophthalmologists. Many graduates aim to eventually become privately practising optometrists.

Optometrists in private practice in Malaysia enjoy:

• great satisfaction in helping their patients overcome vision problems
• a responsible position in the community as a health professional
• the opportunity to be self-employed, either as a partner or a sole practitioner
• substantial monetary remuneration, particularly where they own or part-own a practice
• dealing directly with people for most of their working day

  

• comfortable working conditions
• the ability to attend congresses to interact with peers and learn about new developments in the profession the ability to work as an optometrist in many overseas countries
• the chance to help the less fortunate with participation in eye outreach programs

Optometry graduates in Malaysia also have the opportunity to involve themselves in activities outside private practice such as vision research, teaching and administration and working for various professional organisations in the industry. Some optometrists may specialise in a particular aspect of visual care, including:

• contact lens practice
• low vision
• sports vision
• child visual health
• consultant

Students after SPM or O-Levels may join the Foundation in Science at UCSI University for 1 year before

continuing on to the 4-year Bachelor of Optometry (Hons) programme at UCSI University. Pre-University students with the relevant results in UEC, STPM, A-Levels, SAM, CPU, AUSMAT, etc. can enter directly into Year 1 of the Optometry degree.

Upon completion of the UCSI optometry programme, graduates will be able to register as optometrists with the Malaysian Optical Council (MOC), under the Optical Act 1991. The graduates will be eligible to sit for the American or Canadian optometric board examination, if they want to practice overseas. Nonetheless, job opportunities in optometry abound in Malaysia.

The professional recognition, MQA accreditation and years of experience offering applied science and health science degree courses make UCSI University one of the best universities in Malaysia to study optometry.

Registration to become a Registered Optometrist with Malaysian Optical Council (MOC)

As legislated by Optical Act 1991 and Optical Regulations 1994, all practising optometrists must register with MOC. For new Malaysian optometry graduates, please check with MOC to confirm your institution of higher learning is recognized by Ministry of Health. If your institution is recognized by the government, you can proceed to register with MOC using Form 7. Once registered, you need to apply for Annual Practicing Certificate (APC) and Photo Name Certificate (PNC). APC needs to be renewed annually before 1st of December of respective year. Meanwhile, PNC can only be renewed for every 3 years.

Upon completion of a Degree in Optometry, you will be able to register as an optometrist with the Malaysian Optical Council (MOC).

 

Where do Optometrists Work in Malaysia?

Most Malaysian optometrists are either self-employed or work for other optometrists in private practice. Optometric practices are like those of doctors or dentists and are usually located in office-type premises in or near shopping areas.

Sometimes optometrists work outside their practices, for example visiting homes of bedridden or house-bound patients, acting as a consultant to firms or factories at their premises, or working at health care institutions such as hospitals, community health centres or special clinics.

A small number of optometrists do not enter private practice after completing their course but continue their studies through research and teaching. These optometrists are called vision scientists and usually obtain higher qualifications such as a master’s degree or a Ph.D.

Malaysian optometrists’ basic range of clinical skills and procedures include:

• Refraction: Measuring the optics of the eye
• Binocular vision tests: Testing the co-ordination of the two eyes as a team
• Ophthalmoscopy: Internal examination of the eye for eye disease
• Slit lamp biomicroscopy: External, detailed examination of the eye
• Tonometry: Measuring the pressure of the eyeball
• Optical Dispensing: Supply and management of spectacles and contact lens

Optometrists also develop and implement ways to protect workers’ eyes from occupational eye strain or injury. Other specialist areas include:

• contact lenses
• colour vision
• vision therapy

Career Opportunities for Optometrists in Malaysia

 

 

Work Setting	Type of Work
Private Optometric Practice	Owning and operating an individual private practice and providing direct patient care.
Group Practice	Working in a partnership or group practice with two or more ODs.
Retail Optical Stores	Practicing as an independent practitioner in a retail or optical setting.
Corporate / Industrial	Working in a corporate setting to perform clinical research, develop eye-related products, or provide patient care within a clinic. Manufacturers of ophthalmic products (e.g. contact lens, eye solutions)
Academic	Working in a university setting to teach/mentor optometry students.
Public Health/ Hospitals/ Community Health Care Centres	Working with other health care practitioners to provide interdisciplinary care in a hospital, community health center, or a clinical setting.

 

Top Rank UCSI University Offers the Best Optometry Degree Recognised by Malaysia Optical Council (MOC)

Optometrists also test patients for vision depth, colour perception, contrast sensitivity, and the ability to focus and coordinate the eyes. The tests performed in UCSI are comprehensive eye examinations of the internal and external eye structures that utilise accurate instruments. This enables accurate analysis of a patient’s test results that will be further utilised to develop his/her treatment plan to ensure proper eye care management.

As such, the ocular management may include any of the following: prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses, low vision aids, vision therapy, managing the problems of slow learners, medications, and appropriate referral of patients when necessary.

This four-year full-time Bachelor of Optometry (Hons) programme at UCSI University provides avenues for students to have proper training in managing various eye conditions. Major emphasis is placed on understanding and managing clinical conditions related to the eye in a practical setting and courses are in-depth, challenging, and designed to significantly advance optometric clinical skills in all fields of vision care.

Why Study Bachelor of Optometry (Hons) at Top Rank UCSI University

Optometrists are high-income earners and have tremendous potential for growth, job security and satisfaction. A career in

optometry is virtually stress-free and is not physically demanding.

During clinical trainings, students at UCSI learn in a simulated optometric environment, practising on each other before moving on to real patients, under the supervision of experienced lecturers.

This training provides procedural experiences in case history taking, performing eye examinations, employing diagnostic techniques, and applying the necessary communication skills to discuss treatment plans and options with patients. Not all graduate studies are scientific theories; many are very practice-oriented.

Students in their final year will be able to manage a practice and work with children and the elderly with a clear knowledge of healthcare laws and policies, ethics, and economics that are applicable to the field of optometry.

Qualified professional optometrists in our School will supervise students in various practical clinic sessions, including community service. It’s a good way to gain valuable exposure to the eye health needs of the public.

This way, students are trained to understand the unique problems and needs of patients in different stages of life, particularly

patients in nursing homes.

From these experiences, the clinician will be able to manage inner city neighbourhood clinics, inmates, and institutionalised and low-income patients that otherwise wouldn’t have access to the vision care they need.

The qualified optometrist is a primary health care professional, who examines, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases, injuries, and disorders of the visual system, the eye, and associated structures as well as identify related systemic conditions affecting the eye, through their clinical education, training and experience.

Having been trained to have broad geographical view in patient handling, optometrists are capable to provide effective primary eye and vision care services to children and the general public.

Recognition of the Bachelor of Optometry (Hons) Degree at UCSI University

Upon completion of the UCSI optometry programme, graduates will be able to register as optometrists

with the Malaysian Optical Council (MOC), under the Optical Act 1991. The graduates will be eligible to sit for the American or Canadian optometric board examination, if they want to practice overseas. Nonetheless, job opportunities in optometry abound in Malaysia.

The professional recognition, MQA accreditation and years of experience offering applied science and health science degree courses make UCSI University one of the best universities in Malaysia to study optometry.

Optometry is a lucrative profession and the prospect is excellent. The demand for optometric services is expected to remain high with the ever increasing visual demands in the modern computer-based workplaces, and the increasing life span of the global aging population.

Other unique opportunities

• Chain of franchised superstores (Retail Optical Stores)
• Independent Private Practice
• Partnership or Group Practice

  

• Community Health Centres
• Home Maintenance Organisations (HMOs)
• Hospitals (Private and Public)
• Manufacturers of Ophthalmic Products
• Insurance Companies and Industrial Safety Programmes (Consultants)
• Academia
• Research
• World Health Organisation and other related organisations

Duration The Bachelor of Optometry (Hons) is a 4-Year Full Time study consisting of 26 weeks per semester with no short semester. Intakes are in February and July of each year.

Bachelor of Optometry (Hons) Subjects at UCSI University

Year 1	Semester 1	Biochemistry & Cell Biology for Optometry Human Anatomy & Neuroscience Human Physiology Optics for Optometry
	Semester 2	Optometric Instrumentation Microbiology for Optometry Ocular Anatomy & Physiology Visual Science I
Year 2	Semester 1	Optometric Practice I Ophthalmic Optics and Dispensing I Introduction to Biostatistics Visual Science II General and Ocular Pharmacology I
	Semester 2	Optometric Practice II Binocular Vision I Ophthalmic Optics and Dispensing II Visual Science III General and Ocular Pharmacology II Psychology for Optometry
Year 3	Semester 1	Optometric Practice III Contact Lens Practice I Ophthalmic Optics and Dispensing III Introduction to General and Ocular Pathology for Optometry Low Vision English Communication Skill for Optometry Binocular Vision II
	Semester 2	Primary Care Clinic I Contact Lens Practice II Environmental and Community Optometry Ocular Disease for Optometry Specialty Care Practice A and B Industrial Placement I
Year 4	Semester 1	Primary Care Clinic II Ophthalmic Optics and Dispensing IV Research Methods & Statistics (R&D) Entrepreneurship and Ethics Public Health Optometry Specialty Care Clinic AI Specialty Care Clinic BI
	Semester 2	Primary Care Clinic III Problem-based Clinical Case Study Optometry Research Project (R&D) Specialty Care Clinic AII Specialty Care Clinic BII

Optometry Clinic at UCSI University

This purpose-built optometry clinic houses some of the latest eye equipment including slit lamps used to examine the health of the eye, fundus cameras to take photographs of the eye, ophthalmoscopes to examine the interior surface of the eye, as well as corneal topographer and phoropter used to determine a patient’s corneal contour and glasses prescription, respectively.

UCSI Optometry Retail Centre

In line with its praxis® approach, which advocates the application of theory to practice, UCSI’s School of Optometry also has a purpose-built optometry retail centre. It is managed by one of the leading optical retailers in the country to give students an edge in the entrepreneurial aspect of optometry.

 

 

 

Study at the Top Ranked UCSI University in Malaysia

Founded in 1986, UCSI University is the flagship institution of the UCSI Group conglomerate. With campuses in Kuala Lumpur, Terengganu and Sarawak, the University comprises seven faculties, a Centre for Pre-U Studies, De Institute of Creative Arts and Design, and an Institute of Music, with more than 85 programmes in disciplines like medicine, pharmacy, architecture, engineering, computer science, liberal arts and music.

As one of Malaysia’s first private universities, UCSI University has long impacted the national higher education landscape and the University continues to do so with its wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

UCSI University is ranked in the Top 300 Universities in Asia in 2015 by the renown QS University Rankings. UCSI is one of the few Malaysian private universities to break into the 2015 and 2016 QS Asian University Rankings. UCSI University is ranked as Excellent or Tier 5 in the SETARA 2013 rating system by MQA.

UCSI University  is a vibrant community of learning and scholarship. With more than 10,000 students from 110 different countries, the University stands out as a melting pot of diversity and learners will supplement their pursuit of knowledge with a keen sense of cultural appreciation – a vital trait in today’s borderless world.  Over 30% of UCSI’s student population is international.

Scholarships are available to top deserving students. 1 out of 5 UCSI students obtain a merit-based government scholarship or grant.

As one of Malaysia’s first private universities, UCSI University has long impacted the national higher education landscape and the University continues to do so with its wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

The university has over 100 academic programmes make UCSI the most academically diverse private university in Malaysia by far. They are also the pioneer in Aquatic Science, Biotechnology, Food Science, Music and Nutrition programmes in Malaysia‘s private higher education landscape

OVER 30% of UCSI’s academic staff are PhD holders and a further 17% are pursuing their doctorate. The 2015 average at private higher education institutions in Malaysia is 16%

The University’s academic staff are at the forefront of their disciplines and their views are highly sought after on major issues; from business to political science.  There are 396 members of academic staff (staff to student ratio of 1:22) with the following qualifications:

• 68 doctorate degree holders
• 19 doctorate degree candidates
• 235 master’s degree holders

Many of their academics have extensive experience working overseas and some play advisory roles in public bodies and various committees. By bringing their experiences into the classroom, UCSI’s academics cater to an exhilarating learning environment and learners will thrive as they balance academic mastery with industrial application.

Co-Operative Education Training Programme for Every Year of Degree Studies at UCSI University

With its innovative academic curriculum, UCSI University students also enjoy the unique benefits of its Co-Operative Education Training Programme (Co-Op) that enhances their employability by integrating classroom learning with workplace training in Co-Op employer organisations.

UCSI University is the first university in Asia to facilitate industry placement for students each year.

Completing two months’ work experience for every study year, a UCSI University student would have six to eight months’ work experience to stand ready for full-time employment upon their graduation.

Around 4000 global companies provide UCSI students with internship. And 96% of UCSI University’s Co-Op partners would like to rehire their interns when they graduate.

With the number rising annually, these partnerships create job opportunities for students to be job-ready upon their graduation. UCSI University is among the Best performing comprehensive private universities in Malaysia for graduate employability.

State-of-the-Art Facilities at UCSI University

Located on a 19-acre piece of land, the Campus is located in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur with convenient access to numerous facilities including banks, restaurants, transportation services, entertainment, and on & off

campus accommodation.

UCSI University is about 15 minutes away from KLCC and Midvalley Megamall and a free bus shuttle is provided for students to the Bandar Tasik Selatan LRT station and TBS.

The university is fully wireless and is equipped with the latest cutting-edge technology to access the world of e-learning and e-resources.

Housing 7 different blocks, the Campus includes the Student Centre (Menara Gading), the Resource Centre, the Academic Blocks and Residential Halls to comfortably accommodate a student population of more than 15000.

Other facilities include the four-level library, an auditorium, a recital hall, a multi-purpose hall, computer laboratories, residential halls, bookstores and cafeterias. Also available on Campus is an Apple Experience Centre.

The Campus faculty-centric facilities include: the Anatomy & Pathology Museum, Clinical Skills Laboratories, Petrochemical

Laboratory, Physiology & Pharmacology Laboratory, Molecular Biology Laboratory, and Microbiology Laboratory, fashion design workshops, Psychology Laboratory, as well as drafting and design studios.

The University is also constantly working with the industry to set up specialised labs which ensure students are updated with the latest industrial practices. Currently, the University has established laboratories jointly with National Instruments and RICOH under the School of Engineering and the School of Information Technology, respectively.

Due to its rapid expansion, an additional 48-storey building will be built on the existing Campus that will include a 5-Star hotel, twelve floors of parking bays and hostel accommodations for UCSI University students, administrative offices, restaurants, a ballroom and also a clubhouse.

Sports Facilities at UCSI University

• 

  Badminton Courts

• Basketball Courts
• Football Field
• Futsal Court
• Gymnasium
• Pool Tables
• Squash Courts
• Swimming Pool
• Table Tennis
• Volleyball Court

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These universities and colleges are chosen by EduSpiral because they represent the best in their fields in Malaysia and affordable. EduSpiral provides in-depth information and counseling on their courses so that students are able to make the right choice.

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Please fill up the form for more information. If you do not give your mobile number or full name as in IC, your query will not be answered. Please make sure you give a correct email address and check your email including the SPAM or JUNK email folder within 48 hours as we will email you the information.