They have short term SICS and phaco training- with 1/ 3/ 6 months options for either SICS or Phaco. For short term Phaco they have 3 months and 6 months course but specifically they want only experienced SICS surgeons - where 1000 cases done already. They are not taking novice surgeons with few hundred numbers. But these beginners can opt for long term IOL fellowship; just that short term training is off-limits to them ...but even for short term training, an initial interview will be done. They teach phaco by clear corneal incision and foldable IOLs. All short training options (1 month, 3 months and 6 months) are only for efficient surgeons.

Duration - 1 month  Starting 2-3 SICS will be given to assess our skills, based on that, you progress to Phaco.  If well versed with SICS, then 30-35 phaco cases can be done in 1 month duration.  They provide you stay in an apartment but drawback is, it is far away from the centre. In a week Monday and Saturday are for observation, rest 4 days are for surgical training.  They even make you practice on wax eyeballs.  Trainers are all skilled and do their job very well.  In the beginning, they make you do phaco through tunnel incision and teach you divide and conquer and later chop and stop in the end. You may get few cases with clear corneal incision towards the end. Direct chop they will brief you about it theoretically . Fees something between 1-1.5 lacs

Did my (reviewer) short term 2 week phaco fellowships from ICARE Noida in 2023. Did around 25 cases in those 2 weeks since I was already doing phaco before that as well. The training faculty at ICARE was excellent at my time, I got to complete most of my cases even if I got stuck at a few steps. We were trained to do phaco through clear corneal incision. I would get to see all the preop cases early in the morning and decide what the ideal cases were for me and I would be called specifically to see all my postoperative cases. I would sit after OT with the trainer to discuss the steps I didn't do well. I would suggest if you require just a short term fellowship, then ICARE Noida is good.

1.5 yrs long. Selection is random, you can apply and they call you on need basis.  Starts with SICS, once you are proficient you will advance to Phaco. Phaco is not delayed to 2nd year unlike in some other places. You'll get minimum of 100 phacos in 1.5 yrs (more if you master SICS sooner). Daily timings 8 - 6pm. Sundays usually off unless camp pts come- fellows will have to workup if DNB PGs not there. Regular classes + You are rotated between diff specialty depts, Cornea exposure is more extensive than other specialties. Stipend 30k, last 6 months 35k. Not too hectic, not toxic.

Duration 18 months 2 fellows taken every 6 months  Selection- interview  Stipend 35k  First month is observation period. From 2nd month on, you are started on retinal lasers and intravit injections. You are given good amount of lasers and intravit injection chances. Ozurdex injections opportunities very rare. For cataract, you are started on SICS, goes on x 6 months and then from 7th month, phaco training is given You are given only 1 phaco case per week while the rest of the cases you do SICS. You get phaco only for normal NS2 cataracts, not for advanced cases.   This MR & Cataract program has undergone changes since the previous MR Chief Dr Sucheta ma'am left, because of which MR-Cataract fellows now do not get cataract cases like before. As a result, there is talk that the MR & Cataract program might be discontinued from next session (2026) onwards. Or else if it continues, the cataract chances will not be guaranteed or promised. OP exposure is good, you see a good number of cases  Work timings 9- 4.30 pm Dept is chill, consultants are friendly. ROP exposure is good but screening is image-based (since screening is done by optometrists who use Retcam to take images and send them to doctors)... however, you are given chances for ROP lasers in babies so you learn how to do ROP staging that way... injections are also given in ROP babies but no hands-on for the same is given to fellows. You have camp opinion duties 4-5 times a month Sunday duties are on rotation with all fellows. No night duties. ( Admin Note - the latest ad inviting fellowship applications for HV Desai Eye Hospital's July 2026 session no longer mentions a Medical Retina & Cataract fellowship. They have now what is called the Medical Retina & ROP fellowship which implies that cataract training is not part of this 1 year program.)

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.

Duration- 18 months (was 2 yrs long before 2025) 2-3 fellows/ session, number depends on vacancies Selection- online/ offline interview  Stipend 40k  No admission fee/ security deposit  You spend 1 year in Gen Ophthal and last 6 months in 3 specialities of your choice (each of 2 months posting) You start with SICS after 1-2 months, OT days are 3 days a week. Case numbers are increased based on your learning curve and speed. You are given SICS for 1 year and phaco only in last 6 months. You get to do 80-100 phacos on average (some fellows may get less... again, depends on learning curve) You can get advanced cases if your skill is good, otherwise it's mostly NS2 cataracts for 6 months. No training for complication management  No topical phacos OPD is hectic, not toxic Work timings 8-4 pm on OPD days, after 4 pm you have camp pre-op assessment duties. You have enucleation duty once a month. No night duties. Sunday OP duties 1-2/ month. No peripheral postings.

Both are for 1 month each Fees between 55-60k for SICS  ~76k for Phaco  Hostel also is quite economical, about 5k a month. Case allocation is one per day (Monday - Saturday) Sunday off  Public holidays off  So between 23-26 cases a month  They start and progress depending on how fast you learn but encourage you to do more steps  5 Phaco trainees at a time More trainees taken for SICS  SICS training is little more haphazard. Sometimes fellows and residents may be there to assist especially if you are doing cases confidently. For Phaco, one senior faculty will observe 2 trainees operating simultaneously on screen and help wherever necessary. One day of observation (first day), then you start doing cases. OT routine-  Starts between 9 and 10 am and gets done easily before lunch time. One OT with two tables reserved for the 5 Phaco trainees  3-4 lectures are there Wet lab is quite good and there is unlimited access for CCC, sutures and tunnel. 5 eyeballs for Phaco wet lab training Trainers are good and constantly guiding and most of them are very patient.  They say you shud have done minimum 100 SICS before joining Phaco  Or they make you take their one month SICS training before joining Phaco  If the trainee has a good hand, they will confidently perform Phaco by the 2nd week onwards. If not, definitely by the end . First 3 weeks is tunnel (phaco done through corneo-scleral tunnel) Fourth week is via clear corneal incision and we can purchase foldable lenses for ~250 rs each and implant it. Only thing that is not taught here and probably anywhere else in a short course is complication management.  Overall, one of the most economical and well structured programs I have come across among whichever I have read or heard about.

They have both basic and advanced phaco training course Basic course- 30 cases for 1 lac Advanced course- 20 cases for 1.4 lacs  In the advanced course, mature cataracts, hard grade cat, iris claw, small pupil cases and anterior vitrectomy are taught. First thing Dr Tanaji sir (trainer) does is to give you an overview of phaco surgery, how to do safe phaco, how to hold instruments etc In the 1st week, trainee is given 1 or 2 cases per OT. You are trained to do phaco through clear corneal incision. Once trainee gets familiar with the machine and instruments more no. of cases can be done (even up to 5 cases in a day). Timing of OT is normally 9.30-2 pm. You get cases Mon- Sat  Sunday off Dr Tanaji sir normally takes 3-5 minutes for his own phaco cases. The trainee can watch sir doing live surgery and cases of trainee starts after routine cases. Once trainee gets confident, he can do cases side by side on Oertli or Legion phaco machine. Accomodation is free of cost in the hospital premises itself. A very good program and highly recommended, especially the one on one mentorship that sir gives really accelerated my learning curve.

It is very systematic training. A bit expensive, though. Travelling may be a little difficult. From Kerala (the reviewer is from Kerala) there is one direct train Poorna express weekly once. From Sangli railway station, it is 10 minutes by auto.  If planning to go by flight, there is connecting flight to Kohlapur. From there, around one hour travelling distance to the hospital.  Accommodation they will provide. It is not one month training like other short fellowships. They will give 50 cases. You can finish it earlier, depending on your hands. If you are ok with your hands, they will give up to 5 to 6 cases per day. So I think you can finish it by 20 to 25 days..  Initial two days, there is 3D video class for beginners. Then, there is individual trainer.  Training is very systematic.. all steps are well explained, all trainers will teach same technique. So there won’t be any confusion in technique. They taught mainly divide and conquer technique using clear corneal incision. If you are ok with it, they will teach stop and chop method if you are good enough. I think after 20 cases you will start to do phaco independently. After this training, you will get enough confidence in phaco, but if you have your own centre, my personal opinion is that it’s better to have surgical support in the initial days.  They have decent canteen. Dinner they will bring to your place. Sunday is holiday.  Working time- There is no fixed working time. Morning it will start at 9 am. When ever you finish your cases you can leave.. There is basic course and advanced course. In Basic course, you will get normal NS2 , fully dilated pupil. In Advanced, you will get small pupil, iris hook, CTR, mature cataract, soft NS1, ant vitrectomy and 3 piece IOL.  For basic course, it's 3.5 lakhs for 50 cases. One advanced case is equal to two basic. So if you want to do one CTR or iris hooks case, you can ask for it. Either you pay for it or you give up 2 basic cases to do the advanced case.

1 month paid course  1. One case per day.. you can book your time slot .. you can just attend for that 1 hour and you'll be free for the rest of the day. 2. Consultant will be monitoring and will guide you during the whole surgery. 3. You have to select either clear corneal or scleral tunnel incision method at the time of slot booking (If you select scleral incision, then you implant rigid IOLs and if clear corneal incision, then you implant foldable IOLs). So fees differ based on which incision you opt to learn. 4. Divide and conquer will be the first technique.. if you are good at it, then they proceed with teaching stop and chop method.

I (reviewer) completed a two-week short-term phaco training program at Srikiran Institute of Ophthalmology, Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh. (The history of this hospital if you know it's one of the most heart breaking story I've encountered in my life.) My real life hero is the founder of this place. Key Highlights: - Completed 25 phaco cases in 2 weeks (9 OT days), possibly the fastest in India - Course fee: ₹75,000 - Personalized trainer Bindu ma'am is very good, she will guide each and every step. - Opportunity to observe senior surgeons like Avinash sir and interact with him is real best. - Friendly, skilled staff and zero-stress environment - Comprehensive training: handled various cases (NS-1 to NS-4, small pupils) Training Experience- The program offered hands-on experience with direct chop techniques. I performed surgeries under expert guidance, honing my skills in cataract management, phacoemulsification and foldable intraocular lens implantation. They train you to do clear corneal incision and start you on stop-and-chop method. Logistics- - Food: Decent canteen available, but I mostly ordered food from outside. - Accommodation: Females- outside hostel, Males- inside campus (recommended) Highly recommend Srikiran Institute's short-term phaco training program to all aspiring Ophthalmologists.