Centennial
The history of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry is the history of modern optometry. Since 1919, the College and now Salus University has been a leader in education, in research, and in new approaches to health science delivery.
1919 First non-profit, independent college of optometry
1923 First to confer the Doctor of Optometry degree
1935 First to require four-year optometric educational program
1949 First contact lens course for practitioners, currently known as continuing education
1954 First independent health profession institution to receive regional accreditation
1955 First college of optometry to establish the six-year total educational program
1961 First independent college of optometry to receive state aid
1975 First school or college of optometry to develop a comprehensive, off-campus Externship Program
1978 First to develop a comprehensive interdisciplinary clinical facility, The Eye Institute, for education and patient care
1983 First to develop graduate programs in vision rehabilitation
1988 First independent college of optometry to affiliate with a medical school, Hahnemann University School of Medicine
1990 First school or college of optometry to conduct research and training using an excimer laser
1994 First optometric institution to serve as a clinical trial site for a disease-oriented study from the National Eye Institute
1995 First optometry college to graduate a Master of Science in Clinical Optometry composed solely of international practitioners. Today, nearly 1,000 international practitioners are alumni
2000 First professional school to establish a Doctor of Audiology degree program
2008 First independent school of optometry to start a University
2014 First in the nation to launch an accelerated Doctor of Optometry degree program
2015 First optometry school to launch a two-year neuro-ophthalmic disease residency program
