Phaco-Refractive Fellowship review @ ASG Eye Hospital, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

New review

Duration= 2 yrs

1 fellow taken every year

Stipend 70k in first year, 80k in 2nd year

Selection- Online exam followed by interview

Only phaco is done for all pts here (camp & private), no SICS training.

Almost all cases done under topical anesthesia except in few cases where local block is indicated.

You start OT after an induction period of about 2 weeks.

Given steps initially, and depending on your starting surgical skill and tissue handling, you can expect to be doing independently by 3-4 months (earlier if you already know phaco).

OT for fellows is twice a week (they have same OT days as the consultant they are under), phaco numbers per OT increase with time.

They have a secondary centre where you may be posted every alternate day in first year (posting may be monthly in 2nd yr).. this centre sees mostly Ayushman scheme patients. 

You see OP and you also get OT (3-4 cases per OT) there when posted.

This is the place where you get to learn to manage complications, you can also learn ant vitrectomy.. no iris claws since secondary IOLs are done by VR surgeons.

Summer months see a sharp drop in cases, sometimes you may not get any case at all in few OTs.

Phaco numbers-

The first 2-3 fellows in this program were exclusive fellows (meaning there were no other fellows in the hospital in their time) so they recorded doing 600-800+ cases.

ASG Varanasi added fellowship seats for MR and Paed Ophthal in 2025 and now all fellows get phaco training. 

This means that final numbers for all 3 fellows (PhacoRef, MR and Paed Ophthal) will be lesser than before. Estimated case numbers now are likely 300-400 per fellow (also depends on individual learning curve). 

However this does not affect the final outcome, you are an independent phaco surgeon by the end.

Other than phaco, you get to do Yag caps, pterygiums, few DCRs.

Refractive exposure is good, you get hands-on for LASIK, PRK, ICL (they don't do SMILE here).. can expect around 50 cases over 2 years- patient load is relatively low.

No formal postings in other depts. Still, if you're keen on doing other procedures, they won't stop you but it's on you to make/ find time to make it happen without neglecting your routine work.

Work timings 10 am - 8/8.30 pm

Sundays are working day as any week day

You get a week off in lieu of Sunday (your week off depends on your consultant's week off.. if he's off on Someday, so are you).

OP exposure is extensive, you get to see a good variety, initially you're not allowed to dispose patients.. you can manage patients when Pratyush sir (dept head) is on leave, otherwise you sit in OPD with him. As your experience grows, you see patients on your own.

Working environment is good, no toxicity, consultants are friendly.

Night duties are shared between all fellows depending on number.

Even so they don't tend to be busy.. rare emergency cases come, maybe 2-3 times in a month.

Academics- Zoom classes twice a week.

Good fellowship, you exit as an independent topical phaco surgeon.. for SICS exposure, you'll have to consider alternate options.

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Old review (2024)

24 months duration.

You get ample hands-on and are rotated across all speciality depts so when posted in other depts you may also get chances to do their surgeries as well if interested.

Recent (2024) Phaco-Ref fellow had done some 100 SICS in PG before joining (he was covid batch) and he has done around 600+ phacos independently till now.. also doing LASIK independently so they give you good hands-on in refractive procedures as well.

When posted in other specialities, he got to do independent phaco-trab, retinal lasers and injections and has even been offered steps in retinal surgery (like making ports for PPV). You also get hands-on in oculoplastic procedures, DCR, even squint surgeries. 

Work timings across all ASG centres is 9-9 (am to pm).

Sundays duties are there, you get weekly offs accordingly.

Work is not hectic and definitely not toxic, seniors and consultants are very friendly and approachable.

Good program overall.