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ICO is excited to partner with several undergraduate institutions to offer an accelerated entry into our optometry program. Home • Admissions • Applying to ICO • 3+4 Program 3+4 Program Accelerate your entry into optometry school 3+4 Program Due Dates & Pre-Reqs Entering Class Profile Interview Day International Admissions Every year, we welcome a few exceptional students from several 3+4 programs to ICO. As a student in this program, you will complete three years of undergraduate course work and then join ICO for the next four years. Breakdown of 3+4 Program This program is called 3+4 because, you will spend three years as an undergraduate and then join ICO for the next four years. In most cases, after your first year at ICO, you will have completed the requirements to receive a bachelor's degree* from your undergraduate institution. After completing the next three years of successful coursework, you will graduate as a Doctor of Optometry. This academically intensive program is particularly beneficial if you enter your bachelor’s knowing that you want to be a Doctor of Optometry. When you arrive at ICO, you will already have gained three years of invaluable experience. Historically, we have seen students in these programs perform well above average in our program. As a 3+4 student, you’ve already taken on an accelerated curriculum and succeeded. *Most undergraduate institutions will require you to maintain a 3.2 or higher to participate in this program. Additional Benefits Participating in a 3+4 program provides significant financial benefits by allowing you to forgo one year of undergraduate tuition. That means you'll graduate a year earlier, and you'll have an extra year of income as an optometrist. Am I eligible to apply? To participate in this program, you will need to meet several requirements. You will work directly with our Senior Director of Admissions and our Dean of Student Affairs (also a 3+4 graduate) to ensure you are on the right path. You will also need to work closely with your school's pre-health advisor. Timing is key within this program. In particular, two milestones are important: You will need to talk to your pre-health advisor during the fall term of your freshman year. You will need to talk to them as soon as possible to ensure all requirements are met within three years. In most cases, you will need to register within your 3+4 program by the spring semester of your freshman year. This will allow you to meet all ICO course requirements before applying. Since you are part of an accelerated course, you need to carefully consider when you to take the OAT. Talk to your pre-health advisor to identify what time frame makes sense for you. In addition to these two important milestones, we always encourage students to participate in shadowing opportunities before fully committing to optometry school. This will likely need to be done during the summer between Sophomore and Junior year, although it can also be completed before this. Participating Undergraduate Schools ICO partners with the following colleges for their 3+4 program: Illinois Institute of Technology Augustana College Aurora University Wisconsin Lutheran College North Carolina Central University Elmhurst University Knox College Concordia University Wisconsin Frequently asked questions Why should I consider a 3+4 program? If you are fully committed to optometry, this program gives you the opportunity to forgo a year of undergraduate tuition and arrive ready for four years of optometry school. Once you graduate, you will also be in the workforce one year earlier than your peers. This results in both tuition savings and the opportunity to grow your career more quickly. When should I start thinking about a 3+4 program? If you want to participate in a 3+4 program, you should work on gathering information even before you arrive at your chosen university. ICO partners with a select number of undergraduate institutions and to ensure that all requirements are completed you need to be registered in a 3+4 program by your second semester of the first year. How do I register for a 3+4 program? Since you will need to meet several requirements in a short amount of time, you will need to work closely with your school's pre-health advisor to ensure these are completed in a timely manner. You’ll also work closely with our admissions team who will guide you through the ICO admissions requirements. When should I take the OAT? In most cases, students participating in a 3+4 program will take the OAT during the summer between sophomore and junior year. It can take quite a while to prep and study for the OAT, so you should integrate exam prep into your classroom load during the second semester of sophomore year. Office of Admissions CONTACT P. 312-949-7407 E admissions@ico.edu LOCATION Illinois College of Optometry Office of Admissions 3241 S. Michigan Ave Chicago, IL 60616 CONNECT

Illinois College of Optometry (ICO) proudly announces that Tracy Matchinski, OD, FAAO has been named the inaugural recipient of The Rosenbloom Family Endowed Professorship in Low Vision Rehabilitation . This is the first named professorship in ICO’s history.  This professorship – made possible through the generosity of the Rosenbloom Family, strengthens ICO’s long-standing commitment to advancing low-vision rehabilitation through research, education, clinical innovation, and community-based care, whether locally, regionally and/or internationally . Its impact is especially timely, as an estimated 51.9 million adults in the United States report difficulty seeing even with corrective lenses (American Foundation for the Blind, 2025) , and more than 2.2 billion people worldwide live with some form of visual impairment (World Health Organization, 2019). Dr. Matchinski, a 1995 graduate of ICO , completed a Vision Rehabilitation residency at the Feinbloom Low Vision Center of the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. Since completing her residency in 1996, she has dedicated her career to low vision rehabilitation. As a tenured faculty member at ICO, Dr. Matchinski teaches the vision rehabilitation course and lab, and provides clinical care at the Rosenbloom Center, located at ICO’s Illinois Eye Institute (IEI). Additionally, she practices at The Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind, is a Low Vision Diplomate of the American Academy of Optometry and has served as chair of the Low Vision Section and Diplomate program of the American Academy of Optometry. She has published and lectured nationally and internationally on Low Vision Rehabilitation. Her commitment extends deeply through her leadership in Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH) . She is past president of VOSH/International and VOSH Illinois. As the faculty representative for Student Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (SVOSH). Dr. Matchinski mentors ICO students as they participate in local and international volunteer clinics.  Dr. Matchinski was appointed by Dean Stephanie Messner, OD, with the approval of ICO President Mark Colip, OD. “The ICO community is extraordinarily proud of Dr. Matchinski’s commitment to advancing care for individuals with low vision,” said President Colip. “Her work at the Illinois Eye Institute—and around the world through SVOSH and VOSH— continues to inspire the next generation of students to live the ICO mission so that all patients receive optimal care.”  About the Rosenbloom Family  Alfred A. Rosenbloom, OD, a pioneer in low-vision rehabilitation, is a 1954 graduate of ICO and served as its president from 1972 to 1982. To honor his and his wife Sarah’s lasting impact, their children—Alfred Rosenbloom III and Susan Tobert—established the Rosenbloom Family Endowed Professorship in Low Vision Rehabilitation . This professorship builds on the legacy, which includes the Dr. Alfred and Sarah Rosenbloom Center on Vision and Aging at ICO’s Illinois Eye Institute, established in 2015, to advance specialized care for individuals with low vision and age-related vision needs.  About the Illinois College of Optometry  Founded in 1872, the Illinois College of Optometry (ICO) is the nation’s oldest continuously operating optometric educational institution. With more than 8,000 alumni, ICO is dedicated to excellence in education, research, patient care, and service to the community. Located in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood on the city’s South Side, ICO provides rigorous clinical training and serves over 85,000 patients annually through its teaching clinic, Illinois Eye Institute. For more information about Illinois College of Optometry, visit www.ico.edu .

For over three decades, Michael Chaglasian, OD, FAAO has been a cornerstone of the ICO community. Now serving as Chief of Innovative Technology and Data Science, he’s leading the institution into a new era of digital discovery. From pioneering research in glaucoma to exploring the power of artificial intelligence in clinical care, Dr. Chaglasian bridges traditional optometric practice with the technologies shaping its future. A founding figure in advancing glaucoma education nationwide, his leadership continues to inspire both faculty and students. In this Faculty Spotlight, we take a closer look at Dr. Chaglasian’s journey: from his early days as a SUNY–trained clinician, to his current work with AI–powered diagnostic tools that could transform the future of optometry. You’ve recently taken on the role of Chief of Innovative Technology and Data Science at ICO. How does this position build upon your past work in glaucoma research ? My new role reflects both the continuity and the evolution of my career at ICO. I’ve been here for about 30 years, primarily focused on glaucoma care, research, and education. Now, as Chief of Innovative Technology and Data Science, I’m exploring how artificial intelligence and digital tools can elevate clinical decision–making and patient outcomes, particularly within glaucoma management. ​ AI in health care can feel intimidating to some, but I see it as an opportunity. The goal isn’t to replace clinicians, it’s to empower them. At ICO, we’re in the early stages of building and validating AI algorithms that can assist doctors in interpreting patient data more effectively. For example, glaucoma diagnosis relies on the synthesis of multiple datasets, from visual fields to OCT scans to intraocular pressure readings, and AI has the potential to analyze those variables collectively, identifying subtle trends that even trained eyes might miss. ​ Of course, glaucoma remains my primary focus. It’s a disease that demands early detection, and optometry is uniquely positioned to make that possible. By integrating AI into routine eye care, we can move from reactive to proactive management by detecting subtle nerve fiber changes or pressure trends before vision loss occurs. That’s the promise that drives me today: equipping the next generation of optometrists with tools that not only enhance their clinical confidence but also expand what’s possible for patient care.   Beyond your research, you’ve been instrumental in advancing glaucoma education both on and off campus. What continues to motivate your involvement in that mission ? Glaucoma is often called the “silent thief of sight,” and that phrase captures the urgency of why education is so critical. When I started at ICO, I quickly realized that there wasn’t a dedicated forum within optometry focused exclusively on this disease. Along with several colleagues, I helped establish the Optometric Glaucoma Society (OGS) more than 20 years ago. Today, as its Executive Director, I’m proud to see it flourish into an organization that brings together over 150 clinicians, educators, and researchers. ​ Our mission is simple but profound: to advance the teaching, research, and clinical management of glaucoma within optometry. Every year, we hold a national meeting, just before the American Academy of Optometry’s annual conference, where leaders share the latest research and innovations. It’s an invaluable opportunity for doctors to stay at the forefront of evolving treatments, from new medications to laser procedures such as selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT), which is increasingly considered a first–line therapy. ​ The field itself is moving rapidly. For decades, glaucoma care revolved around topical medications. Now, we’re seeing a shift toward laser–based and minimally invasive surgical options that offer better compliance and fewer side effects. But all of these advances hinge on one thing: early and accurate diagnosis. That’s where optometrists come in. As primary eye care providers, they are on the front line of detection, and it’s essential they have both the knowledge and the confidence to make those calls. ​ At ICO, I see that same spirit of advancement reflected in our students and faculty. We’ve significantly expanded opportunities for student research, giving future clinicians hands–on experience in data analysis, experimental design, and evidence–based care; I believe this kind of training is what transforms a student into a lifelong learner. My advice to graduates is always the same: keep learning, attend conferences, and stay connected to professional organizations. The field is evolving too quickly to stand still. ​ After three and a half decades here, ICO feels like home. I didn’t graduate from this institution, but its mission and its people have shaped my career. This collaborative environment we’ve built, where research, teaching, and patient care intersect, is something truly special. I’ve stayed all these years because I love this work, I love this community, and I believe the best innovations in optometry are still ahead of us.

Wow. I really cannot believe it. I really cannot believe it, and I'm not trying to sound hyperbolic. I still can't believe that after all these years I've finally graduated from ICO and have become a Doctor of Optometry. Granted, it's only been a couple weeks, but even still it doesn't feel real. I've been in school for basically my whole life, and now it's finally over. It almost seems like I'm just home for another summer break and will be back to school in the fall, but for the first time in my life that won't be the case. Trying to look back on this whole journey, from undergrad up to my still very recent ICO commencement, where do I even start? Just to think of how much I've experienced in that time frame: how many people I've met, how many places I've been, how many obstacles I've had to face, and how much I've grown and changed. It feels like I've lived several lifetimes, and at long last I have the time and space to just sit with it undisturbed. There's no way I'd be able to summarize it all in a short blog post, but it just feels right to try to bring some kind of closure to this whole adventure. Besides, if you've been following along up to this point, you already know some of the challenges I've had to face throughout my educational career, so no point in retreading old ground. I will say, though, that my path to and through ICO was not the most straightforward. On the absolute contrary, it was filled with many twists and turns, academically, emotionally, and personally. It just felt like one curve-ball after another. Not to mention we're still living through a once-in-a-lifetime global pandemic, so there's that ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. But with all that said, where does that leave me now? I'll be honest, in the short time I've been home I haven't given it much thought. However, I do know that this journey was about so much more than just me graduating, which in and of itself is still a big accomplishment. Rather, it was about becoming the person I always dreamed of being. Not just a doctor, but someone who's relentless in pursuing their goals, someone who cares about other people and empathizes with their struggles, someone who's not afraid to take the path of most resistance, and someone who stays authentic to who they are even in the face of extreme pressure. I will surely continue to be tested in these ways for the rest of my life, but having finally made it to this point, I no longer fear those challenges. No, I embrace them because they are what made me into who I am today. Despite how unrelentingly arduous the path seemed at times, it was worth it a thousand times over. I remember when I first came to Chicago and I went up to the 95th floor of the Hancock Tower during Orientation Week. It was a moment I will never forget for as long as I live. Looking out onto the night's sky from the tallest building I had ever been in, I was in absolute awe seeing how far the city went on for. Little did I know what was in store for me. My world was about to get so much bigger both literally and figuratively. It was so terrifying yet so exciting knowing the task I was about to undertake, and now that task has finally been completed.   Chicago and ICO will forever be a part of me. I couldn't have asked for a better city to live and study in, and I couldn't have asked for better people to have shared that city with. From biking down the lakefront, seeing concerts at many of Chicago's venues, eating so much great food, grinding through school, and being able to share that all with the people I love while growing alongside them, I am forever grateful. For anyone who's been with me for the ride, I hope you've enjoyed reading my blogs over the last 4.5 years because I definitely enjoyed writing them. And for all those who will continue to follow me going forward, I hope I'll continue to make you proud. Thank you all so much from the bottom of my heart, and farewell. Much love, Dr. Nathaniel Briggs, OD