4 Best Optometry PhD Degree Programs for 2025

The Ph.D. in Vision Science is offered to top students worldwide. With leading programs in biology, optics, imaging, and vision science, you can prepare for a career in academic or industry research while interacting each week with professionals in the field.

The Max Planck School of Photonics (MPSP) is a top-tier interdisciplinary graduate school in Germany that provides a unique PhD program (as well as a combined MSc and PhD program) in Photonics for excellent graduates from all over the world. We are not a single university, but a network of 19 top universities and research institutions across Germany. Therefore, we combine the knowledge of the best researchers and offer our students a unique graduate school experience: • Full funding and no tuition fees • Excellent teaching and research facilities • Outstanding network of world-renowned Fellows • Additional curriculum bundling the knowledge of our Fellows and preparing you for your career • Very good connections to industry After completing our "study phase" or if you apply with a qualifying MSc degree you can start your PhD research project. In the 3-year "research phase" you conduct your doctoral project in photonics under the supervision of our MPSP Fellows at one of our 19 research institutions.

The four-year professional Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree program includes all the clinical and practical facets of optometry, as well as the theoretical and fundamental aspects of vision science.

As an optometrist, you have the power to help patients improve their vision and see the world through a brighter lens. This innovative program helps you provide comprehensive eye care and promote healthy vision to patients of all ages in diverse settings. Through cutting-edge instructional technologies in both classroom and clinical environments, you will learn how to diagnose and manage a wide range of ocular and systemic conditions.