4-5 / 20
History and Mission
Upon the closing of the optometry program at Columbia
University, the Optometric Center of New York (OCNY)
was founded in 1956 by a small group of optometrists as
a clinic to provide vision care to the people of
New York City and to serve as a source of continuing
professional education for New York optometrists.
Governor Nelson Rockefeller, by legislative act,
created the SUNY College of Optometry in 1971 and
four years later, the OCNY changed its status from
clinic to foundation, becoming the endowing arm
of the College.
Today, the OCNY is a non-profit, tax-exempt Foundation
and supports vision science research, patient care and
education at the College. The foundation provides
scholarships, fellowships and stipends for professional
and post-graduate students and funds vision science
research, vision care outreach programs and
library acquisitions.