Duration= 18 months Selection- interview 2 fellows taken every 6 months Stipend- 35k 40k in the last 6 months. Surgical training starts after 2 months You start with SICS. 3 OT days per week so 3 cases per week initially and numbers increase gradually based on how you pick up. Phaco training given after first 6 months 1 phaco per week, rest all SICS Can expect an average of 50-60 phacos in total Management of complications (ant vitrectomy and iris claws) are taught in last 2 months.. but numbers for this is less so you'll need to do more cases after fellowship to refine that skill Advanced cataract cases are given mostly for SICS, can get some for phaco if your skill is good. You also get to do a few topical phacos in last month. Refrac sx exposure starts after first 6 months but hands-on given only in last 6 months. Pt load is less so you get around 15-20 cases, all LASIK and PRK.. SMILE not given to fellows. OPD- 1st 6 months is exclusive Gen Ophthal OPD posting after that you get lasik OP/ refractive OP posting intermixed with Gen Ophthal OP OP is hectic, you get to see all speciality cases (since you're the one referring them to specialities) Work eviron is busy but not toxic. Consultants are friendly. No camp duties or night calls. Sunday duties 1-2/ month, either Sunday half day OP or Sunday pre-op camp duty. Enucleation duty is shared between all fellows. Academics- mostly self learning

Fees- 60,000 without accommodation (10k extra with accommodation) Accomodation availability isn't guaranteed. If it's available, then you will get it. You get 25 cases during this training. Training is for 1 month. Intakes per session- I (reviewer) do not know about maximum slots per month. But I have seen upto 4 slots for a month. They start off surgical steps straight away and titrate the training according to your starting point. Daily routine There's postop in the morning at 7:30am Then 8am-9am class And from 9am till camp patients arrive, you are free to attend OTs of senior surgeons and observe. Usually patients for surgical training arrive around 11am. And that's when the training starts. Morning class and OT observation happens in one centre. The post-op and SICS training is conducted in another centre (around 15 mins travel from the main hospital by bike/scooter). SICS training is usually overseen by final year PGs. Wet lab facility is available. Free to use wet lab any time during the day. Staffs will guide initially on how to use it and then you can use it as and when you want. If you're a total beginner and have no experience in operating, the trainer will stay with you , and as you progress, they gradually supervise you less. But there's always someone to manage any complication. No pre-requisites to join this course. Can't say that you will be confident in SICS in just 1 month, depends on the trainee as to how quickly they absorb. I took the course for 2 months and felt confident with my surgery by 45th day. MM Joshi's an excellent institute. Very skilled, knowledgeable and approachable staff.

Duration 2 months (going to be 3 months from next session in 2026) 1 trainee taken per session. Fees 20k (may change from next session, please confirm with hospital). They prefer candidates who are well versed with IO and can visualize periphery well. First month you're mostly in OPD. You see OP patients but cannot dispose them on your own. You start retinal lasers towards the last week of 1st month. You get lasers everyday, mostly LIO... so if you're not good with IO, you won't get that many lasers initially, it will depend on how fast you pick up. You also get to do B scans, FFAs and OCTs on your own. Intravitreal injections are given only in the 2nd month, with 2 OTs per week.. can expect an average of 10-15 pts.. only pseudophakic pts are given for injection.. no Ozurdex hands-on given ROP exposure is too less for 2 months.. you might pick up some screening skills but won't be adequate. Dept is not too hectic, not toxic Consultant is friendly Work timings 8.30- 5/6 pm This program is better suited for those who use IO regularly and see retina patients routinely.. not advised for total beginners.

Duration 6 months (going to be 1 year from next session in 2026) 2 MR fellows taken every 6 months Selection- MCQ exam (if more than 10 applicants) + interview If less than 10 applicants, only interview Stipend 45k First month is observation period. You see OP patients and learn findings but not allowed to manage patients on your own. You start getting retinal lasers towards the end of 1st month You get to do lasers everyday, mostly LIO... slit lamp lasers not very common You also get to do B scans, FFAs and OCTs on your own Intravitreal injections are given only in the last month, with 2 OTs per week.. can expect an average of 10-15 pts.. you get only pseudophakic pts for injection, hence the low numbers.. no Ozurdex hands-on given. ROP exposure + you pick up screening but minimal hands-on for lasers and injections given. Uvea- good exposure to diagnosis and management, good caseload. No phaco training. Dept is not too hectic, not toxic Consultants are good to work with Work timings 8.30- 5/6 pm No night duties/ camp duties Sundays free No peripheral postings Once program becomes 1 year long, you can expect more hands-on for retinal injections and ROP lasers.

No reviews available for this program since they have not had any fellows in the last 4 years.

1 year fellowship Selection- Interview 2 fellows taken per session Intake usually from Jan- April Stipend- 60k No application fees/ caution deposits  There's 1 month observation after which they start you on surgery (SICS) You get 8-10 OTs in a month Phaco training is in the last 6 months and fellows get 50-80 phacos on average No advanced cataracts given  No complication management training No topical phacos You also get to do laser procedures like YAG caps and PIs Work timings 8.30- 5 pm Fellows see charity OP but pt inflow tends to be low. So case variety is less. Peripheral postings + No night duties. Camp duties + after 5 pm where you have to do pre-ops. On days when you have post-op duty, you come before 8.30 am.

Duration= 1 year Selection- interview  1 fellow taken per session, taken on need basis  Stipend- 40k  Surgical training starts after 15 days You start with SICS and continue for 6 months Phaco training given only in last 6 months  You get 300 SICS + 50 phacos during this fellowship  Management of complications can be picked up on your own, they let you manage if capable. Advanced cataract cases given only for SICS. No topical phaco hands-on.  No refrac sx training included. OPD- great clinical exposure with 150 patients daily. Non toxic work environment. Very helpful consultants.  Peripheral posting 2 times/ week - Kandhala/ Baraut  No camp duties or night calls. Academics- Classes every Monday at 3.30 pm

Course is for 3 months  Fee has been updated to 50k/month, so total fee is 1.5 lakhs 1 fellow taken per session. No stipend. No observation period, your hands-on starts from first day. Timing 9-6, Mon-Sat  Sunday and festival are off. Lots of cases, you can see every possible case that walks in. Staff is very friendly. You will be under Dr Ram sir's supervision, he's very helpful and eager to teach. Every case is seen by sir, you are not permitted to dispose general OP pts by yourself. Fellow is given their own cabin Sir sees case first, if there's any retinal finding, he will call us to his cabin and explain, make us see fundus and investigate. FFA, OCT are done by fellow. FFA and OCT, PRP/barrage laser, intra vitreal injections happen almost every day. In 3 months you'll easily do 100+ intravit, both antivegf and antibiotic combined.  However, it's done only under supervision, no free hand. I (reviewer) did approximately 20 laser treatments. Overall, really good option if you are looking for short term fellowship. There's usually waiting period for about an year, so you have to book your slot well in advance.

Selection- by interview Recently fellowship duration has been increased to total of 2 yrs 6 months posted in Gen Ophthal dept + 18 months in Cornea dept Fellow intake is random and happens frequently, sometimes every 3 months.. so as many as 5 fellows may exit in a month when their fellowship is over Stipend 40k in 1st yr, 50k in 2nd yr They start you on SICS from 3rd month of gen ophthal posting Phaco training is now included since it's been increased to 2 yrs but no fixed number is promised However fellows get phaco only after they have done at least 500-1000 SICS which can mean you get phacos only in last 3 months Every fellow has 1 cataract OT and 1 cornea OT per week- usually 1 SICS/phaco per cataract OT- number increases based on your skill and speed  Cornea OP - good range of exposure to all kinds of Cornea cases You get hands-on for all common corneal procedures, AMG, pterygiums, corneal tear repairs etc  Penetrating KPs- minimum of 15 cases, no fixed number is promised Good exposure to lamellar surgeries but hands-on not given.. one or two lucky fellows may get 1 DSEK in the very end and that too, mostly steps Refractive cases- there is good exposure and you are trained in workup and selection of patients  Hands-on for 1-2 PRKs may be given towards end of fellowship  Mostly LASIK & PRK done here, no SMILE Night duties once a month and Sunday duties once in 3-6 months, however your other Sundays may still be occupied with camp/ post-op duty Academics- classes+ Hectic dept

Selection- by interview Total of 2 yrs First six months posted in Gen Ophthal dept + 18 months in Glaucoma dept Fellow intake is random and happens frequently, they may take in fellows every alternate month as well depending on the no: of fellows abt to finish  Stipend 40k in 1st yr, 50k in 2nd yr They start you on SICS from 3rd month of Gen Ophthal posting Phaco training included.. given in last 5-6 months of fellowship, you get an average of 40 phacos   Good hands-on for trabs and SICS trabs, total no of trabs you get around 40 Glaucoma OP- good range of cases, every textbook case seen  You get liberal hands-on for glaucoma lasers   Exposure to AGV and MIGS is ++ But hands-on is limited- you may get 1 AGV and some 4-5 MIGS towards the latter end of fellowship  Night duties once a month, Sunday duties once in 3-6 months but Sundays may still be occupied with camps or post-op duties Academics- classes usually with DNB PGs Work timings 7.30 - 7.30 pm

Duration 2/ 3 yrs, depending on which one you opt for. Fellows taken throughout the year depending on vacancy  Fellows who agree to 3 yrs are taken in sooner, 2 yr fellows have to wait for next available slot (can be up to a year in advance) Selection- interview Stipend 40k for first yr, 50k in second yr No phaco training.  First 3 months you are posted in Gen Ophthal (except for the 3 yr fellowshp where you're posted for 1 yr in Gen Ophthal) From 4th month (or 1 year later for 3 yr fellows) you are posted in Retina dept and start getting lasers and intravit injections in the 5th or 6th month.. you also start retina OT from 6th month.   You start with steps and then get to do more and more as your skills progress. You are even given independent cases towards the end depending on your skill. You also get to do macular surgeries and TRD surgeries if your hands are good.. however fellows with poor tissue handling skills may not get chances. Clinically, OPD is good and you get to see almost every retina case. ROP exposure minimal- mostly screening, no chances for ROP lasers Oncology cases seen once in a while  Dept is hectic Work starts from 7.30 and can go up to 6.30 or 7 pm Night calls once a month  Once every 3-4 months you may get a Sunday duty  No camp duties. No formal classes, mostly self-learning.   Overall, you get more surgical hands-on for VR fellowship in Aravind Pondicherry compared to Aravind Madurai.

I went there for a 3 week hands-on phaco training in 2025 which included 15 cases. I extended it for another week for 5 extra cases at extra cost. One case is given each day but they are flexible and cases can be adjusted if required.  In the morning, you get to observe all the paying phaco and discuss or enquire any questions you might have. You can also observe other surgeries if you are free. Hands-on is done after the paying list is completed, usually in the afternoon. After that, you are free.  The consultants are helpful and approachable. Different consultants teach you on different days. So you get to observe and learn different techniques. They are patient and guide you. They do not take over the case unless you’ve messed up real bad. If you’re stuck during a step, they tell you how to do it and let you proceed.  Phacos are taught through a clear corneal incision with a foldable IOL. Wet lab is also there to practice in your free time.  Overall it was a great experience and they make sure that you learn phaco by the time you’re done. They charge 5500 + 18% GST per  extra case. Fee (as of 2025) was 1,05,000 + 18% GST for 3 weeks, 15 cases. They do provide single accommodation for 2500 per night.