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To apply to ICO, prospective students must complete a series of college-level, pre-optometry school courses. Home • Admissions • Applying to ICO • Due Dates & Pre-Reqs Due Dates & Pre-Reqs Preparing you for optometry school 3+4 Program Due Dates & Pre-Reqs Entering Class Profile Interview Day International Admissions Last date to submit OptomCAS application: May 1, 2027 Last OAT or GRE Test Date Accepted: May 1, 2027 How to apply: Complete the OptomCAS application and collect all needed documents through OptomCAS. You will need to submit your OAT scores. Remember to factor in the studying for and taking of that test before you join in the fall. Be sure to list ICO when you submit your application. The application cycle typically begins at the end of June. Required materials for applicants: Two letters of recommendation Academic (Pre-Health Advisor, Science Professor and/or Academic Committee) Non-relative practicing Optometrist Transcripts from your prior schools Your OAT or GRE score. Prerequisites We have found that science-specific courses completed at 4-year universities tend to better align with the types of courses students take at ICO. Grades of C or higher are accepted. Courses do not need to be completed before applying and can be planned or in-progress at the time of your application. Additionally, we strongly encourage the completion of human-based biological science courses. We welcome applicants from any and all undergraduate majors. It is possible for exceptional non-degree candidates to be considered once they have completed a minimum of 90 semester hours or 135 quarter hours prior to enrolling at ICO. When these candidates graduate from ICO, they can also graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Visual Science. There are specific requirements for this degree to learn more, visit our degree requirements page. Category Minimum Semester Hours Minimum Quarter Hours Courses per Category English Composition/Literature 2 6 9 Or similar graded non-remedial writing courses. One course in public speaking is acceptable. College Calculus 1 3 4.5 Pre-calculus is not acceptable. Statistics 1 3 4.5 Business statistics is not recommended. Psychology statistics or biostatistcs are acceptable. Biology with Laboratory 2 6 9 General biology, physiology, zoology and comparative anatomy are all acceptable. Botany does not apply. Microbiology with Laboratory 1 3 4.5 Bacteriology is also acceptable. General Chemistry with Laboratory 2 6 9 Inorganic Chemistry is also acceptable. Organic Chemistry 1 3 4.5 Laboratory is not required. Physics with Laboratory 2 6 9 The sequence does not need to be calculus-based. Psychology 1 3 4.5 Both introductory and upper-level psychology courses are acceptable. Social Science 1 3 4.5 Economics, political science, anthropology, sociology or an additional psychology course are acceptable. English Composition/Literature Or similar graded non-remedial writing courses. One course in public speaking is acceptable. Total courses needed: 2 Minimum Semester Hours: 6 Minimum Quarter Hours: 9 College Calculus Pre-calculus is not acceptable. Total courses needed: 1 Minimum Semester Hours: 3 Minimum Quarter Hours: 4.5 Statistics Business statistics is not recommended. Psychology statistics or biostatistics are acceptable. Total courses needed: 1 Minimum Semester Hours: 3 Minimum Quarter Hours: 4.5 Biology with Laboratory General biology, physiology, zoology and comparative anatomy are all acceptable. Botany does not apply. Total courses needed: 2 Minimum Semester Hours: 6 Minimum Quarter Hours: 9 Microbiology with Laboratory Bacteriology is also acceptable. Total courses needed: 1 Minimum Semester Hours: 3 Minimum Quarter Hours: 4.5 General Chemistry with Laboratory Inorganic Chemistry is also acceptable. Total courses needed: 2 Minimum Semester Hours: 6 Minimum Quarter Hours: 9 Organic Chemistry Laboratory is not required. Total courses needed: 1 Minimum Semester Hours: 3 Minimum Quarter Hours: 4.5 Physics with Laboratory The sequence does not need to be calculus-based. Total courses needed: 2 Minimum Semester Hours: 6 Minimum Quarter Hours: 9 Psychology Both introductory and upper-level psychology courses are acceptable. Total courses needed: 1 Minimum Semester Hours: 3 Minimum Quarter Hours: 4.5 Social Science Economics, political science, anthropology, sociology or an additional psychology course are acceptable. Total courses needed: 1 Minimum Semester Hours: 3 Minimum Quarter Hours: 4.5 Application Checklist For step-by-step instructions download our application checklist. Your Journey to ICO To see your full application journey visit why.ico.edu Frequently asked questions Are there any resources to shadow an optometrist? ICO has a number of alumni that offer shadowing opportunities throughout the US and Canada. To be paired with an ICO alumni that you can shadow near you (or if you live in Chicago, arrange a shadowing opportunity in our clinic!) Fill out this form. What is the Bachelor of Science in Visual Science (BSVS) degree? The BSVS degree is available only to those students who entered ICO without a bachelor’s degree. However, the BSVS Degree is not a terminal degree and does not connote graduation from the Illinois College of Optometry. The degree is only awarded with the Doctor of Optometry degree at Commencement, and it requires an application available from the Registrar’s Office. The BSVS degree includes humanities, social studies, and human-related biological sciences courses taken at the undergraduate level in combination with courses taken within the ICO curriculum. More details regarding eligibility are available on the application and within ICO's Student Guide. What is the minimum OAT/GRE score? No minimum OAT score is required, but you can see how ICO first years generally performed on our Entering Class Profile. Only OAT and GRE scores reported within the last two years are acceptable. When should OAT/GRE be complete? Your test must be completed by the application deadline. If you change your testing date after you submit your ICO application, please contact Admissions immediately. What if my ICO pre-requirements aren’t completed? Not all admissions requirements need to be completed before applying. As long as you take the GRE or OAT by ICO’s application deadline and you successfully complete all academic requirements by August of your desired year of entry, you may apply. After I submit my OptomCAS application, when will I hear from the Office of Admissions? Once your application has been verified by OptomCAS, we will notify you via email. It takes approximately 1-2 weeks after your application has been verified to hear from our office.

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