In order to meet the health care needs of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia, it is necessary to provide adequate educational facilities for training the needed health care personnel.

At present, the student pursuing an education in many health care areas can obtain his education from an institution within the Commonwealth. One health care area for which students must currently seek an education outside of the State is optometry.

With the foregoing in mind, the 1974 Session of the General Assembly directed that a study be undertaken to evaluate the feasibility of establishing a school of optometry in Virginia.

The purpose of this paper, then, is to report on the feasibility of establishing a school of optometry in the Commonwealth of Virginia. An ancillary purpose is to determine the most efficient and effective means of educating the vision care personnel needed to provide services required by Virginians.