Ophthalmology Courses: After 12th , India , Fees, Colleges, Online, , Jobs and Salary 2026

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Ishika Ray

Updated 3+ months ago

Ophthalmology has always been a very popular stream due to its never decreasing demand. After completing class 12, candidates will have a considerable number of options in the ophthalmology stream. 

They can choose between certificate, diploma courses and Bachelor courses in ophthalmology. All of these courses will deal with Physiology, Anatomy and all the diseases of the eye in complete detail. Both Medical and Science background courses are available in this stream. 

While the paramedical courses will focus more on the diseases of eye, faults and their remedies, the science background courses will focus more on the working and general structure of the eye. 

See Also: Top Ophthalmology Colleges in India

The courses are generally offered by reputed medical colleges and other colleges which are recognised by the Medical Council of India. 

Certification Courses
  • These courses are offered by very few institutes, most of them are reputed eye care hospitals.
  • Most of these courses will be offered in offline mode and will involve ample practical learning.
  • Duration varies between 3 months to 1 year.
  • The major specialisations available are Ophthalmic Dispensing, Vision Rehabilitation, Retina Diagnostics, among others.
Diploma Courses
  • The Diploma courses available after 12th are generally offered by deemed universities and medical colleges recognised by MCI.
  • Some of the common diploma courses include Diploma in Ophthalmic Assistant, Diploma in Ophthalmic Technology, Diploma in Optometry, among others.
Bachelor Courses
  • The most popular Bachelor degree courses in Ophthalmology are BSc Ophthalmic Technology and BSc Optometry.
  • These courses are generally offered by established medical and paramedical colleges in India.
  • The candidates who wish to do a degree which is almost equivalent to a medical degree should look for these courses.
  • The duration of the course varies depending on the level of the course. There are certification courses with duration as short as 1 month, while some Bachelor’s degree courses may be 4 or more than 4 years long. 
  • Almost all the ophthalmology courses are offered in offline mode only. Practical sessions are compulsory in all these courses. 
  • The course fees will depend on the level of the course and the type of the institute offering the program. The fees charged by the government colleges are considerably lower than the private colleges. 
  • The total fees for certification courses ranges between INR 10,000 - 20,000. While for diploma and degree courses, the yearly fees may be as low as INR 8,000 to as high as INR 3,00,000. 
  • The major specialisations offered under Ophthalmology stream are Ophthalmic Technology, Ophthalmic Assistant, Ophthalmic Dispensing, Vision Rehabilitation, among others. 

After completing the Ophthalmology courses after 12th, the candidates may work as Assistant Ophthalmologists, Ophthalmology Technicians, Vision Care Centre Incharge, etc. They can also start their own ophthalmic centre. The average annual salary offered to these candidates ranges between INR 3,50,000 to 6,00,000. 

The candidates doing certification and diploma courses will have better employment chances if they complete their graduation in Ophthalmology in future. Candidates completing graduation may go for further studies like MSc degree in Ophthalmic Technology. 

Ophthalmology Courses After 12th: Highlights

The ophthalmology courses available to 10+2 candidates give them an opportunity to pursue a course which will include a lot of medical skills. The highlights of the various ophthalmology courses available after completing 12th standard are tabulated below. 

Popular Courses
  • Certificate: Certificate in Ophthalmic Dispensing, Vision Rehabilitation, Retina Diagnostics, among others.
  • Diploma: Diploma in Ophthalmology, Diploma in Ophthalmic Technology, Diploma in Ophthalmic Assistant.
  • UG: BSc Ophthalmic Technology and BSc Optometry.
Duration
  • Certificate: 3 months to 1 year.
  • Diploma: 2-3 years.
  • UG: 3-4 years.
Eligibility
  • The eligibility criteria for all the Ophthalmology courses after class 12 is 10+2 in Science stream with Physics, Chemistry and Biology as compulsory subjects. The minimum marks required varies between 45% to 55%.
Average Fees
  • Certificate: INR 10,000 (total course fees)
  • Diploma: INR 50,000 to 2,00,000 (yearly)
  • UG: INR 1,00,000 to 4,00,000 (yearly)
Online Courses Only a few Diploma courses are available online.
Distance Courses Open Universities like IGNOU offer Distance BSc in Optometry and Ophthalmic Techniques.
Top Job Prospects Assistant Ophthalmologists, Ophthalmology Technicians, Operation Theatre Technician, Vision Care Centre Incharge, etc.
Average Salary
  • Certificate: INR 3,00,000 to 4,00,000
  • Diploma: INR 3,50,000 to 5,00,000
  • UG: INR 4,00,000 to 6,00,000

Keep reading to know about the different Ophthalmology courses available after class 12 in detail. 

Certificate Courses

Certificate Ophthalmology Courses After 12th

Certificate Courses in Ophthalmology are generally aimed to provide hands-on training to the candidates interested in learning key ophthalmology skills. They are mostly offered in offline mode and are highly practical based courses.

  • The duration may vary from 3 months to one 1 year, but most of these courses are generally 6 months long. 
  • The candidates can learn skills on various specialisations of ophthalmology like Vision Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology Dispensing, Orthoptics, Retina Diagnostics, and other Ophthalmic Techniques through these courses. 
  • These courses will mainly focus on practical learning and will make the students capable of performing many ophthalmic techniques themselves. 

These certificates prove very beneficial for the candidates who wish to learn vital ophthalmic skills within a short span of time. They are also useful for those candidates who have already completed their diploma or graduation and want to advance their knowledge in this stream. 

The candidates completing these certificate courses easily get recruited as assistants in various ophthalmology clinics. The average job salary offered to these candidates ranges between INR 3,00,000 to 4,00,000. 

Offline Certificate Ophthalmology Courses After 12th 

Certificate Courses in Ophthalmology are offered by only a few institutes and almost all of them are in offline mode. These courses are mainly offered by reputed eye hospitals who train the students with an aim to mould them into future ophthalmology technicians. Some of the major certificate courses in Ophthalmology which can be pursued after 12 are tabulated below. 

Certificate Name Colleges Offering Average Fees
Certificate in Ophthalmology Dispensing Sankara Eye Hospital, Bangalore INR 10,000
Certificate in Vision Rehabilitation Sankara Eye Hospital, Bangalore INR 10,000
Certificate in Retina Diagnostics Mahathma Eye Hospital Tiruchirappalli Sankara Nethralaya Academy Chennai INR 10,000 to 15,000
Certificate in Orthoptics Mahathma Eye Hospital Tiruchirappalli INR 15,000
Certificate in Lens Techniques Mahathma Eye Hospital Tiruchirappalli INR 15,000

How are Admissions in Certificate Programs in Ophthalmology Courses After 12th Done?

Admission to Certificate courses in Ophthalmology are generally done on the basis of merit. There is no specific entrance exam for this course. 

  • The candidates will have to apply through the website of the institutes providing the course. Offline forms may also be available in some cases. 
  • The institutes will go through the profile of the candidates to check whether they are eligible for this course or not. 
  • To be eligible for this course, the candidate must complete 10+2 in PCB and must be fluent in English. 
  • Once the candidates are found eligible, they are shortlisted on the basis of their merit. The shortlisted candidates are offered admission to the course. 

Top Institutes Offering Certificate Courses in Ophthalmology After 12

Very few institutes offer certification courses in Ophthalmology for 12 pass-out students. Some of the most prominent ones are tabulated below. 

Institute Name Location
Sankara Eye Hospital Bangalore
Mahathma Eye Hospital Tiruchirappalli
Sankara Nethralaya Academy Chennai
Diploma Courses

Diploma Ophthalmology Courses After 12th

The diploma courses in Ophthalmology for 12 pass-out students are highly practical oriented diploma courses. After completing these courses, the candidates will be able to fully assist the Ophthalmologists, perform various essential Ophthalmology techniques and will have a basic knowledge on all the eye related aspects. 

  • The duration of these courses generally lie between 2 to 3 years. 
  • Majority of the courses are offered in offline mode but very few institutes also offer this course in offline mode as well. 
  • The various specialisations offered include Ophthalmic Technology, Ophthalmic Assistant, among others. 
  • These courses will include both theoretical and practical learning, but the main focus will be on practicals. 
  • The students will not only gain hands-on training on all the ophthalmology techniques, but they will also study the basic structure of the eye, all the eye related diseases and their remedies. 

The diploma courses give an opportunity to learn ophthalmic skills to those candidates who do not want to do a degree course in this field. 

The candidates completing Diploma courses in Ophthalmology will get opportunities to work as Assistant to Ophthalmologists, Patient Care Workers, Spectacle Dispensers, Lens Curators, among others. The average annual salary earned ranges between INR 3,50,000 to 5,00,000. 

Offline Diploma Ophthalmology Courses After 12th

The diploma courses in Ophthalmology comes under the paramedical branch of study. The courses are offered by many deemed universities, Paramedical colleges and Institutes. The most popular diploma courses in Ophthalmology are tabulated below. 

Course Name Colleges Offering Average Fees
Diploma in Ophthalmic Technology (DOT) MM Joshi Eye Institute, Rajasthan Paramedical Council, Premlila Vithaldas Polytechnic, RIMT School of Health Sciences, Singhania University, among others. INR 25,000 to 1,00,000
Diploma in Ophthalmic Assistant (DOA) Gopal Narayan Singh University, Madhya Pradesh Medical Science University, etc. This course is also offered by National Skill India Mission. INR 20,000 to 75,000
Diploma/Advanced Diploma in Optometry and Ophthalmic Techniques Rayat Bahra University, Kohinoor College of Paramedical Sciences, etc. INR 25,000 to 50,000

Online Diploma Ophthalmology Course After 12th

Since Ophthalmology requires a lot of practical training, the majority of colleges offer these courses offline. However, few colleges like Madan Institute of Professional Studies do offer Diploma courses online.

  • MIPS offers Diploma in Ophthalmic Technology in Distance Learning mode. 
  • The minimum duration of this course for 12 pass-out candidates is 2 years, while the maximum duration is 4 years. 
  • The candidates must complete 12 in Science stream with PCB as compulsory subjects for being eligible for this course. 
  • The admission is granted on the basis of merit. 

How are Admissions in Diploma Ophthalmology Courses After 12th Done?

The admission to diploma courses in Ophthalmology are mostly done on the basis of merit. 

  • The colleges will release the application forms online and the candidates will have to fill out the same. 
  • After scrutinising the forms, the colleges will publish a merit list of eligible candidates. 
  • The shortlisted candidates will be called for counselling and document verification. 
  • The candidates who will qualify all the steps will be enrolled in the course. 

After getting the final enrollment letter, the candidates will have to pay the required fees to secure their admission. 

Top Institutes Offering Diploma Ophthalmology Courses After 12th

The popular institutes offering diploma courses in Ophthalmology After class 12 are tabulated below.

Institute Name Location
MM Joshi Eye Institute Hubli
Rajasthan Paramedical Council Jaipur
Premlila Vithaldas Polytechnic Mumbai
RIMT University Mandi Gobindgarh
Singhania University Jhunjhunu
Gopal Narayan Singh University Rohtas
Madhya Pradesh Medical Science University Bhopal
Bachelor Courses

Bachelor Ophthalmology Courses After 12th

The students willing to join Bachelor degree courses in Ophthalmology After class 12 can join BSc courses in Ophthalmology field. These courses have full focus on both theory and practical aspects of Ophthalmology. 

  • The duration of these courses are generally 4 years. The examination is taken on semester basis. 
  • These courses are mostly offered in offline mode with lots of practical sessions. Even if you study in distance learning mode, you will have to physically attend the practical sessions regularly. 
  • The major skills learned through these courses are ophthalmology techniques, Ophthalmic diseases and their treatment, Dispensing Spectacles, among others. 
  • The courses will include compulsory internships of minimum one semester duration. 

These courses are almost similar to medical courses. So, the candidates willing to join a bachelor's course involving a lot of medical skills can definitely join these courses.

After completing these Bachelor courses, the candidates will get a lot of job opportunities in various hospitals, eye clinics and Spectacle centres. The starting salary of the jobs offered ranges between INR 4,00,000 to 6,00,000. 

Top Undergraduate (UG) Ophthalmology Courses After 12th

These courses are generally offered by reputed medical colleges and universities including AIIMS. The BSc courses in Ophthalmology field is offered in the following specialisations. 

Course Name Colleges Offering Average Fees
BSc in Ophthalmic Techniques AIIMS INR 8,000 to 70,000
BSc in Ophthalmic Nursing AIIMS INR 8,000 to 50,000
BSc in Optometry and Ophthalmic Techniques Sharda University, Institute of Public Health and Hygiene INR 50,000 to 1,50,000

Distance BSc Courses in Ophthalmology After 12th

Indira Gandhi National Open University Offers BSc Optometry and Ophthalmic Techniques course in Distance Learning Mode. However, every candidate will be allotted a particular study centre for the practical sessions. 

  • Currently, this course is offered in 19 study centres throughout India. 
  • The minimum duration of the course is 4 years, while the maximum duration is 6 years. 
  • The course fees for this course is INR 81,000.
  • The course will consist of both practical and theory subjects, with main emphasis on the practicals. 
  • The practical sessions will be held in study centres (which are mostly eye hospitals) where physical attendance is compulsory. 

How are Admissions in Bachelor Ophthalmology Courses After 12th Done?

The admission to UG Courses are generally done on the basis of merit. However, some colleges may consider NEET ranks. 

  • The colleges will release the application forms generally in the month of May. The candidates will have to fill the form and apply to the colleges. 
  • The colleges will shortlist the candidates on the basis of merit and other eligibility criteria. 
  • The shortlisted candidates will be called for counselling and document verification. 
  • During the document verification process, the candidates will have to show their documents to prove their eligibility. 

The candidates found eligible will be offered enrollment to the course. After this, the candidates will have to pay the required fees to secure their admission. 

Top Institutes Offering Bachelor Ophthalmology Courses After 12th

Many top medical colleges and open universities in India offer UG courses in Ophthalmology. Some of them are listed below. 

Job Prospects

Ophthalmology Courses After 12th: Job Prospects

After completing Ophthalmology courses, the candidates will generally get to assist the eye doctors, and will get jobs in the various optic centres. The major job options are discussed below. 

Ophthalmology Assistant

The Ophthalmology Assistant or Ophthalmic Assistant works as an assistant to an Ophthalmologist (Eye Specialist). They will assist in day to day work, patient care, and conducting ophthalmic operations. 

Starting Salary: INR 4,00,000

Skills Required

  • Patient Care
  • Knowledge of Eye Medicines and Remedy of Eye Diseases
  • Ophthalmic Techniques 

Optical Dispenser

Optical Dispensers work to curate and fit the spectacles according to the needs of the clients. They basically work in the various optical centres. 

Starting Salary: INR 2,00,000 

Skills Required

  • Optical Measurement 
  • Lens Designing
  • Lens Dispensing 

Ophthalmology Technician

Ophthalmology Technician plays a very important role in all the ophthalmic techniques. They can either perform these techniques themselves, or assist the Ophthalmologists in performing them. 

Starting Salary: INR 5,00,000 

Skills Required

  • Sound knowledge of all the Ophthalmology Techniques
  • Good Communication Skills
  • Patient Handling and Care

Ophthalmology Nurse

Ophthalmology Nurses take care of the patients before, during and after the Ophthalmology Operations are performed. They should also assist the Ophthalmologists in performing those operations. 

Starting Salary: INR 5,00,000 

Skills Required

  • Knowledge of Eye Medicines and Remedy of Eye Diseases
  • Patient Care
  • Behavioural Skills
  • Basic knowledge of the structure of the eye
  • Communication Skills 
Ophthalmology Courses After 12th Salary Trend
Skills Required

Ophthalmology Courses After 12th: Skills Required

Ophthalmology Courses will require a deep knowledge of PCB topics, mainly Optical Physics and Optical Biology. Along with that, the employers will also look for certain skills in an individual before giving them. Some of these skills are discussed below. 

Communication Skills

For those working in optical centres, Communication Skills are also important. Better communication skills will help them become successful as Ophthalmic Assistants and Ophthalmic Technicians. Numerous courses on Communication Skills are available in online platforms like EdX and Course racing. 

Top Communication Skills Courses

The popular online course platforms like EdX and Coursera offer various types of courses on Communication and Personality Development. Some of the popular courses are tabulated below.

Name of the Course Online Platform Offering Institute
Improving Communication Skills Coursera University of Pennsylvania
Dynamic Public Speaking Coursera University of Washington
Effective Communication Coursera University of Colorado Boulder
Communication and Interpersonal Skills at Work FutureLearn University of Leeds
Inspiring and Motivating Individuals FutureLearn University of Michigan

Communication Skills Course Syllabus

Networking Planning & Negotiations
Meetings Making Presentations

Communication Skills Job Profiles

  • Media Planner
  • Translator
  • PR Specialist

Patient Handling and Care

An important skill of Ophthalmology candidates is Patient Handling. For this, the candidates must have adequate soft skills. Various certification courses on Soft Skills are available in various platforms like NPTEL. These courses prove to be beneficial for these candidates.

Top Patient Handling Courses

Though Patient Handling courses are not directly available, many types of skills are often recommended to sharpen your patient handling and care skills. Some of them are tabulated below. 

Name of the Course Online Platform Offering Institute
Developing Soft Skills and Personality NPTEL IIT Kanpur
Social Psychology Coursera Wesleyan University
Teamwork Skills Course University of Colorado Boulder

Patient Handling Course Syllabus

Social Perceptions and Misperceptions Persuasion
Deindividualization Group Behaviour

Patient Handling Job Profile

  • Nurse
  • Counselor
FAQs

Ophthalmology Courses After 12th: FAQs

Ques. I want to do a Medical course other than MBBS. Which one should I choose - Ophthalmology or Dentistry? 

Ans. Both courses have their own pros and cons. But, as Ophthalmology courses do not have any compulsory entrance exams, they are easier than dentistry in terms of getting admission. Also, after completing the courses, opening a dentistry clinic is far more expensive than opening an eye care centre. 

Ques. Will I have to attend practical classes physically if I join BSc Optometry and Ophthalmic Techniques course from IGNOU? 

Ans. Yes, the candidates will have to attend all the practical classes physically in a nearby IGNOU study centre which will be assigned to the candidate. 

Ques. Can I do a diploma course in Ophthalmology online? 

Ans. Diploma in Ophthalmic Technology is available in online and distance mode. But, as this course requires a lot of practical sessions, so very few colleges prefer to offer it online. 

Ques. Is there any compulsory entrance exam for admission to Ophthalmology Courses After 12?

Ans. There is no national level entrance exam for admission to Ophthalmology Courses After 12.

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