Long Term Fellowships reviews @ CMC Vellore, Tamil Nadu

- Started in 2023.

- Eligibility- MS/ DNB.

- They have fellowships in Glaucoma, Orbit, Paediatric Ophthalmology, Community Ophthalmology, Uvea & Med Retina.

- No fellowships in Cornea/ Surgical Retina (VR) as of 2025.

- All fellowships are 2 years long.

- Selection- Entrance exam followed by interview.

- There is an exit exam.

- Only 1 seat per specialty per year.

- Fellowship is hectic, clinical exposure is good.

- All fellows get Phaco training. If you are not good in SICS, then they will make you master that first.

* Good academics- structured seminars, journal clubs, case presentations etc

- Some programs require you to do research projects. 

Glaucoma

- Clinical exposure is good.

- Also get training in lasers (PI, suturolysis, iridoplasty etc).

- Glaucoma fellows get hands-on in SICS trabs, Phaco trabs, cyclodestructive procedures

- No hands-on for MIGS/ surgical glaucoma devices 

Uvea and Medical Retina

- Fellows get trained in lasers, intravitreal injections, ROP screening, also operate on complicated cataracts.

- Fellows don't get ROP lasers because they are done by the VR dept.

- There are postings in other depts- Rheumatology, Infectious Diseases, Micro, Patho, Surg Retina etc.

Paediatric Ophthalmology 

- Good clinical exposure.

- Fellows get hands-on in paediatric squint, cataract, NLD probing etc.

- No hands-on for paediatric oncology but you get to observe management of retinoblastoma cases.

Community & Comprehensive Ophthalmology 

- Involved with outreach ops and community centres and camps.

- Lots of field work and surveys.

- Have to do a research based project during the fellowship.

- Clinical rotations through general units every week, specialty rotations in 2nd yr.

- Fellows get hands-on for SICS and phaco, pterygiums, lasers, intravitreal anti-vegfs.

Orbit & Lacrimal Surgery

- Hands-on is limited, mostly assisting and observation-based.

- You have to do a thesis/ scientific project during this course.