Demographic information relevant to planning for optometric education is examined from three perspectives: changes in the national population, changes within the health professions in general, and changes within optometry. (MSE)

High-impact trends in optometric practice are examined including looks at several different approaches to practice (narrow scope, broad scope, primary care, and specialty practice), alternatives and predictions, and specific curricular recommendations. (MSE)

The movement to shift the optometric testing focus from traditional visual sciences to the biomedical sciences is fortunate, but the optometric curriculum should also be carefully evaluated and redesigned to integrate the sciences better. (MSE)

A survey of 16 optometry schools shows foreign student enrollment up from 1.1 percent to 2.1 percent of total enrollment between 1977-78 and 1989-90. A rapid increase in Canadian students is noted, with growth from 19 percent to 54.4 percent of all foreign enrollment. Opportunities for improving the field worldwide are seen in these trends. (MSE)

Issues in future health care delivery include the aging American population, rapidly rising costs, the shifting of control of health care from providers to consumers, decentralization of care, technological change, and rapid expansion of knowledge. These will have great effect on patients, health care providers, third-party payors, and curriculum.…

A serious decline in the optometry schools' applicant pool argues forcefully for increased and aggressive student recruitment, particularly of black, Hispanic, and native Americans, who are underrepresented in the profession. Financial aid and financial management assistance for these groups are also needed. (MSE)

The article compares health care costs, insurance claims paid to practitioners, distribution of health care costs, numbers and ratios of practitioners, infant and neonatal mortality rates, for-profit organizations, underserved groups, technology, quality control, cure vs. care, prevention, and specific health care problems in the United States and…