Mission Vision and Goals of the Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences
 
The mission of Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences is to provide distinguished vision and care services for society by:

• preparing students for careers in Optometry, the ophthalmic industry, and vision science

• advancing general and esoteric knowledge in Optometry and vision sciences through teaching, research, and community outreach programs.

The fundamental goal of preparing students for careers in Optometry and Vision Sciences is currently achieved by the B.Sc. degree Program offered  in Optometry, which we hope – in the near future –  to upgrade to an OD (Doctor of Optometry) program, to bring Saudi graduates in line with international norms in Optometry education, practice and research. Further down the horizon, there are plans to offer Masters and PhD postgraduate programs in Optometry and Vision Sciences.

 
 The vision of the Department of Optometry is to be at the leading edge of vision care
 for the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and world-wide.
 
 The goals of the Department of Optometry focus on six areas:

 1.        Teaching:          The Department aims to be recognized as an excellent

department in teaching.
 

2.         Patient care:      To train in sufficient numbers students who will be able to

provide efficient, cost-effective and goals-oriented vision care

tailored to the specific needs of individual patients  

3.         Research:         To build a culture of clinical and basic research in Optometry

and Vision Sciences with a view to creating a centre of research excellence in Saudi Arabia and in the wider Middle East. 

4.         Facilities:          To have state-of-the-art facilities, training programs and

paradigms, that create an integrative approach to education, research, training, and service delivery.

As far as preparing students for careers in Optometry and Vision Sciences, the goals

of the optometry program are:

1.         To qualify men and women for the practice of optometry.

2.         To instil in the graduate a scientific and professional attitude.

3.         To provide a background for the graduate's contribution to the civic and social welfare of the community.

4.         To encourage and facilitate graduate study in optometry and vision science.

5.         To encourage and facilitate research in the clinical aspects of optometry to contribute to the scientific and professional literature.