Eye specialists of the future may train at Portsmouth university

A NEW course at the University of Portsmouth will train future optometrists to overcome the shortage of eye care providers across the south.

By The Newsroom

Published 3rd Aug 2016, 17:28 BST

Updated 3rd Aug 2016, 18:30 BST

Provisional permission has been granted for the university to run a Master of Optometry course this autumn.

Students will be trained over four years to a clinically professional standard.

The course will begin in September and the first qualified optometrists will graduate in 2020.

After graduating, students will be eligible to become a register practitioner from the General Optical Council.

The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Graham Galbraith, said: ‘It’s excellent news that we have been given provisional approval from the regulator to launch our new optometry programme of study at the university this autumn.

‘We have a strong reputation for training healthcare professionals, for which there is great demand.

‘This course will expand our already excellent provision in healthcare and meets a pressing need for qualified optometrist in our region.’