Vision science is the study of how people see. Students learn to do clinical research and treatments. They study anatomy and physiology of the eyes. They also learn how vision changes across the life span.

About 35 million Americans wear contact lenses. Contact lenses offer significant advantages – you can play sports without the risk of harming your glasses and you don't need to buy expensive prescription sunglasses, to name a few. Many kinds of contact lenses exist, from disposable sets to lenses you can wear for a month at a time. Have you ever wondered who developed contacts in the first place?

Contact lenses were developed by vision scientists - people dedicated to scientific research of the eye. Vision scientists study how the eye works, how people see, and ways to correct vision problems. As a vision scientist, you can study ways to improve contact lens technology. Or, you can study new ways to correct vision, such as laser eye surgery. You can also study ways to prevent or even reverse blindness.

In vision science programs, most of your courses will be in the physical and natural sciences. You take courses in anatomy, physiology, and biology. You also take chemistry and physiology. Overall, your courses focus on how the eye works. This ranges from studying how the brain and eye communicate to how eyes determine color. In addition, you also take courses in research methods and statistics.

You can become a vision scientist by going to graduate school after you finish your bachelor's degree. About 10 colleges and universities offer master's and doctoral degrees in vision science. Often these programs are part of the school of optometry. Typically it takes two years to finish your master's, and three to five years to finish your doctorate. Most people with degrees in vision science become researchers and professors.