Application Process

Residency applicants apply through ORMatch. All supporting documents (including optometry school transcripts, three letters of recommendation, CV, NBEO scores, and a brief letter of intent concerning their goals for residency training) are sent directly to the program coordinator via ORMatch. Completed applications are reviewed, and select applicants are invited for an on-site or zoom interview with the optometric team and one ophthalmology representative. Selection of candidates is made through ORMatch and is in accordance with its guidelines. Selection criteria and processes are reviewed on an annual basis by the residency coordinator. 

Applicants to the program must have received their Doctor of Optometry degree from a school or college of optometry accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education prior to the beginning of the residency. In accordance with the University of Kentucky College of Medicine policy concerning resident selection, residents are not selected regarding sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, or any other applicable legally protected status. 

The Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) has granted University of Kentucky Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences the accreditation status of “Accredited.” Accredited is a classification granted to an educational program indicating that the program generally meets the Standards for accreditation. For more information, see the ACOE’s website at www.theACOE.org or contact the ACOE at accredit@theacoe.org.

The deadline for application is Jan. 29, 2027 for the next available position that will start July 1, 2027. The optometry residency position is filled through the Optometry Residency Match system (ORMatch). Qualified applicants will be contacted to schedule an on-site interview once their application is complete.