The Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences is one of the nine academic departments/schools within the School of Health Sciences (Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences) at the University of Melbourne. The Department is located in purpose-built facilities on the Parkville Campus, including having its Visual Neuroscience research groups in the Melbourne Brain Institute building.The Department in 2009 opened The University of Melbourne EyeCare clinic, which provides clinical training for Optometry students and service to students and staff of the University and the general public. In 2011 the Department commenced the 4 year Doctor of Optometry (OD) postgraduate degree as part of the new Melbourne curriculum. Approximately 250 students are enrolled in this professional optometry program.The Department has a vigorous and expanding research program in vision sciences with particular emphasis on the research areas of i) the biological foundations and detection of ocular disease; ii) visual neuroscience and visual neurophysiology. It offers training courses by research leading to PhD and Masters degrees, and also offers a Master in Vision Science.