Cornea & Anterior Segment Fellowship review @ HV Desai Eye Hospital, Pune

It was 18 months at first, then they changed to 24 months in 2024 but now there is talk of reverting back to 18 months from next batch onwards (Jan 2026).

Selection is by interview (no written exam).

1-2 fellows taken per session (based on need).

Taken twice a year (Jan, July).

Email them with your CV and fellowship of interest, they don't usually reply but will call you when the time comes.

For those looking to join the Jan batch, start sending your applications from Oct and for those looking at the July, start from April.

Stipend 30k in 1st yr, increased to 35k in 2nd yr.

Clinical exposure is very good, you see all kinds of cases.

Phaco training is included but you start with SICS at first, given phaco only in 2nd yr to last 6 months, usually 1 phaco per week.

You get only penetrating keratoplasties (PKs)- therapeutic PK is started at 6 months, optical PK at 12 months.

Good exposure for lamellar surgeries and refrac procedures but no hands-on.

You also get amniotic grafts, C3R, pterygiums, tarsorraphies, corneal tears etc

Dept is very hectic.

Op usually finishes at 4 pm followed by camp duty for whichever cornea fellow is posted that day- this duty is to see cornea referrals in the camp pts who come, not for cataract pre-op workup.

Classes are there- about 2-4 per month.