Vitreo-Retinal Surgery Fellowship review @ HV Desai Eye Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra

Duration 2 yrs

2 Fellows taken every 6 months 

Selection- Interview 

Stipend 35k

No admission fees/ caution deposits

No phaco training. 

But you are trained for SFIOLs

First 3 months is mainly observation (1 month posting in Gen Ophthal and 2 months in VR dept seeing only OPD and retina investigations)

In the 2 months while you are in VR dept, you are started on intravitreal injections and retinal lasers.

After 3 months, your OT starts.

Initially it's 1 OT day/ week, then after 6 months it becomes 2 OTs/ week.

1st month of OT posting, you are given only belt buckle cases.

2nd month you get only core vitrectomies.

3rd month you get SO removals and FAEs.

Then gradually they give you steps in more complex cases. 

By the end of 12 months you will be doing nucleus drops, IOL drops, simple vit hges and simple RRD cases.

You get steps in macular surgeries, peeling step in last month.

Can also be given steps in TRD surgeries as well.

ROP training starts after the first 3 months, you are taught screening initially.

Then once you get the hang of screening, staging and protocols, you are given hands-on for lasers and injections in babies.

Clinical exposure is good 

Dept is not too hectic, consultants are friendly 

Work timings 8- 4.30 pm on OPD days

When you have laser day, you're posted in laser room whole day.

OT days you finish by 6 or 7 pm depending on the case list.

You have camp opinion duties after 4 pm- around 5-6 duties per month 

You also get 1 Sunday duty (10- 2pm OP, you have to see only retina opinions)

Enucleation duties is divided between all fellows so that happens once a month 

And you also have what is called General OPD evening duty which is seeing OP from 4-8 pm (twice a month)

No peripheral postings.

You're able to do common retinal surgeries and ROP management by the time you finish fellowship, experience comparable to other good fellowships.