Overview

The Department of Optometry is a foundational primary eye and vision care discipline dedicated to evaluating, preserving, and enhancing visual health. The department specializes in diagnosing and correcting refractive errors (myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia), treating binocular vision abnormalities, and managing pediatric vision disorders such as amblyopia and strabismus. Furthermore, our academic scope encompasses the design, fabrication, and fitting of optical aids, contact lenses, and low-vision rehabilitation systems.

History and Evolution

Optometry in Iran was pioneered in 1974 with concurrent programs established at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and Shahid Beheshti University. Following the nationwide development of the field, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences established Iran’s first intermittent Master of Science (M.Sc.) program in Optometry in 2003, matriculating its inaugural cohort in September 2004. Today, MUMS remains one of the premier academic institutions offering post-graduate optometric education and is actively advancing curriculum benchmarks toward establishing the Ph.D. program in Optometry.

Academic & Research Scope

The department integrates patient-facing clinical training with applied optical physics:

• Degree Programs: Offering Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) and Master of Science (M.Sc.) programs in Optometry, with preliminary developmental stages for doctoral-level (Ph.D.) research.
• Clinical & Refractive Science: Comprehensive management of complex refractive conditions, corneal topography, binocular vision therapy, and contact lens fitting.
• Applied Industrial & Occupational Optics: Professional consulting services for transport agencies (driver vision standards), civil aviation (pilot depth perception and color vision testing), and industrial work environments (ergonomic lighting and eye injury prevention).
• Exclusive Departmental Library: A dedicated repository containing specialized English books, international vision science journals, and postgraduate master’s theses.

Mission and Vision

• Our Mission: To train adept, compassionate optometrists and vision scientists; pioneer fundamental and applied research in ocular diagnostic devices; and safeguard societal vision health through active community and occupational screening.
• Our Vision: To maintain our position as a leading authority in optometric education and vision science in Iran and the Middle East, expanding doctoral training and applied optical technologies.