Medical Retina & Phaco Fellowship review @ ASG Eye Hospital, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

Duration= 2 yrs

Selection- MCQ exam plus interview 

Stipend- 65k a month 

Fellows taken- 1 to 2/ year

Phaco training began from first month 

Since I (reviewer) was a novice and didn’t have any surg exposure, my mentor was generous in teaching me from the beginning, he personally guided me the whole way till I reached proficiency.

No SICS training.

If you already know SICS then you can operate on the hard cataracts if your mentor says so.

Final phaco numbers you get depends on the individual's learning curve.

Can expect 200-300 minimum.

500 at most.

You are trained in med retina procedures - PRP, intravitreal injections, post sub tenon injections

Investigations also - FFA, OCT, Biometry, Pentacam, B scan

Med Retina training starts at the same time you start OT.

Lasers - you can expect in hundreds (150-200)

Intravit inj - ~ 250 nos

ROP training-  

ROP cases come in sparsely.

You learn to screen them them under your mentor's guidance.

Laser wasn't given in my time.

Peripheral postings- none

No night duties 

Camps twice a month at max.

Academics- very strong

You have regular online classes 

Ppt presentations by fellows 

Very exhaustive discussions by mentors.

This is a key highlight of this fellowship.

There are internal exams as you approach the end of training.

Vivas are intense, can feel overwhelming at times.

But the academic rigor definitely helps (personally helped me clear FAICO in phaco), helps with other exams like ICO too.

OPD exposure is comprehensive- you see cases across all specialties.

In the first year, you mostly assist your consultant and observe closely.

With time, you are given an independent cabin (sometimes earlier, depending on performance).

Work environment- Non-toxic and supportive

Mentor-based system- experience can vary depending on whom you’re posted with.

But no unnecessary hierarchy issues.

Timings - 11- 8 pm, can go late on OT days.

You are expected to stay aligned with your mentor’s OPD + OT schedule

Longer OT hours can be tiring but also means more surgical exposure.

Pros

- Strong one-on-one mentorship

- Good foundation in phaco from basics

- Excellent access to diagnostic machinery

- Balanced, non-toxic work environment

- Academics are taken seriously

Cons

- Lower surgical volume compared to high-volume/trust setups

- Learning is mentor-dependent

- Long hours without strict cut-offs

- Requires self-drive to maximize opportunities

Overall a good fellowship, you come out as an independent phaco surgeon with medical retina skills.