The expanding scope of optometry and the impact on the curriculum of schools and colleges.

The expansion of the profession of optometry has placed pressures on the schools and colleges of optometry to reduce traditional curricular elements, add new ones, obtain faculty trained for the new scope of the profession, and provide additional patient experiences for hands-on learning. While the schools have adapted to these pressures and are leading the profession into new areas, the traditional 4-year optometry curriculum is critically filled. Further expansion will require difficult decisions.