Optometry Residencies in Minnesota
Do you want to continue your optometric education with a specific focus? See the list below of oppportunities available in Minnesota.
Completing a residency in optometry is a unique and invaluable experience! The rich rewards gained from the year of advanced clinical training under an experienced mentor serve to enhance career opportunities and add to the level of confidence the resident has when beginning his/her post-residency career.
Deadlines for residencies listed below are January 31, 2026.
Associated Eye Care – Ocular Disease/Anterior Segment
Stillwater, Minnesota
This post-graduate residency program is offered by the Associated Eye Care (AEC) in Minnesota, an affiliate of the Illinois College of Optometry. The goal of this program is to provide advanced clinical training in the treatment of ocular disease, clinical research, surgical co-management and perioperative care, as well as comprehensive care to patients ranging in age from neonatal to geriatric. Associated Eye Care's integrated eye care model will allow the resident to work in conjunction with both optometrists and ophthalmologists in a fast-paced private clinic that treats the entire spectrum of ocular pathologies. This organization includes a broad range of sub-specialized eye care providers such as pediatric, glaucoma, retina, dry eye, cornea and anterior segment, therapeutic contact lens, as well as refractive laser and cataract specialists. This structure allows us to care for our patient's "vision for a lifetime".
Bright Eyes Vision Clinic – Vision Rehabilitation/Pediatric Optometry
Otsego, Minnesota
The Vision Rehabilitation with an emphasis in Pediatric Optometry Residency Program at Bright Eyes Vision Clinic provides qualified graduate optometrists with advanced clinical experience in the diagnosis and management of pediatric eye diseases, binocular vision disorders, visual-perceptual dysfunctions, acquired brain injury and other functional vision deficits. The learning objectives are achieved through patient care, case studies, presentations and seminars which will facilitate the resident's development into an expert clinician in the areas of pediatric optometry, binocular vision, vision development, neuro-optometry and vision enhancement.
Chu Vision Institute – Ocular Disease/Refractive and Ocular Surgery
Bloomington, Minnesota
This residency focuses on anterior segment disease and ocular surgery including cornea, cataract, refractive surgery, dry eye, and glaucoma within a private clinic and ambulatory surgery center. There is a strong emphasis on the pre-and post-operative management of ocular surgery patients as well as advanced medical management of patients with ocular disease. The resident will become proficient at managing patients with premium cataract surgery technologies. The resident will also have an opportunity to participate in clinical research, observe surgery, and work with ophthalmic technician and optometry externs.
HealthPartners Medical Group – Primary Care Optometry/Ocular Disease
St. Paul, Minnesota
This post-graduate residency program is offered by HealthPartners Medical Group in Minnesota, an affiliate of the Illinois College of Optometry. The program focuses on Primary Care Optometry emphasizing medical optometric care. The resident will gain experience in managing ocular disease and will be involved in the interdisciplinary care of patients. It is based at the HealthPartners Specialty Center in St. Paul and includes rotations to other eye care clinic locations in the Twin Cities metro area. The resident will provide comprehensive eye care including contact lens services working primarily with optometrists and collaborating with ophthalmologists. They will also be involved with specialty eye care services including dry eye, myopia management, pediatrics, vision rehabilitation, and urgent care. The residency program includes shadowing of general ophthalmologists, eye care subspecialists, and specialty care clinicians outside of eye care. The resident will gain insight into coordinating care with other healthcare specialties. They will also have the unique opportunity to learn about the administration of a busy, integrated eye care practice by meeting with supervisors and managers in the eye care department. The program focuses on clinical care but also includes didactic education and scholarly activity. Two clinical projects, such as poster presentations or case reports, are required during the residency period. Residents will be asked to present case reports at HealthPartners meetings and at resident seminars at the Illinois College of Optometry and other local or national optometric conferences.
Minnesota Eye Consultants – Ocular Disease/Anterior Segment/Glaucoma
Woodbury, Minnesota
This residency focuses on anterior segment disease including cornea, cataract, refractive surgery, glaucoma, and oculoplastic care. There is also a large portion of clinic designated to urgent care which allows for a vast experience in all realms of ocular disease. The resident has the opportunity to work with ophthalmologists and optometrists who have subspecialty/ fellowship training in cornea, external disease, refractive surgery, glaucoma and oculoplastic surgery, pre- and postoperative eye care. There is also the option to perform specialty contact lens fittings. Resident goes to three of the 4 different clinics (Woodbury, Minnetonka, Blaine, and Bloomington) on a 4-week rotating schedule.
