Vitreo-Retinal Surgery Fellowship review @ Giridhar Eye Institute, Kochi, Kerala

Duration 2 yrs

2 fellows taken every year (was 6 fellows per session till 2025)

Selection- Clinical interview.

Stipend 35k in 1st yr, 45k in 2nd yr.

No admission fees/ caution deposits.

Accommodation available- charged 5k per month.

No phaco training. 

First month you're posted in refraction and opticals (Dr Giridhar is particular that VR fellows shud know refraction well)

Second month you're posted in retinal investigations.

3rd month onwards you're in VR dept, initially it's observation, you attend OP with senior consultants.

You have monthly postings with each VR consultant.

They start you on steps when you enter VR and then based on your calibre and learning curve, you are given more.

OT days for fellows are twice a week.

You have Uvea posting for a month.

And ROP posting for 2 months.

ROP visits- usually 2-3 per week, ~4-5 babies screened visit

You learn screening and also get hands-on for ROP lasers and injections.

No ROP surgeries done here.

Mondays- evening classes where you have to present something, case or article or surgical video.

Good classes, fellows are expected to come well prepared.

You are also started on retinal lasers and intravit injections from the beginning- 2 or 3 days a week you are posted in lasers room or just for injections- generous hands-on given till the end.

Surgery numbers between fellows can be variable depending on skill. 

Consultants expect you to know everything about the cases so if you stroll into OT just for hands-on, don't expect to get many chances afterwards. 

Your performance in Monday classes is also a significant factor in deciding your OT chances.

You get to assist and see all kinds of retinal surgeries done here... OPD exposure is also extensive.

You are posted in Giridhar sir's OT in the last 3 months- you are given hands-on there as well.

You're allowed to operate independently by the end if the consultant thinks you can do it.. in 2025 session, there were 6 fellows and only 2 fellows were doing independent cases towards the end.

Dept is not hectic, consultants are friendly.

Work timings 9- 5pm 

No night duties

You have Sunday duties once in 2 months (shared between all fellows)

No peripheral postings for VR fellows.

If you quit fellowship midway, you have to pay back 2 months' stipend (ie if you work 5 months and quit, then you have to return the last 2 months stipend).

Overall, a good fellowship for VR with strong academics as well.