Glaucoma Fellowship review @ Aravind Eye Hospital, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu

Aravind's Tirunelveli Hospital is the centre of excellence for glaucoma in the Aravind eye care system.

• Admission here is based on 2 days interview cum observation, on joining one has to undergo one month orientation course followed by 2 yrs of glaucoma training. 

• First 3 months will be general posting and next 21 month in glaucoma. 

• One can expect unlimited number of SICS, around 75-80 SICS+trab, Phaco usually starts in the last 3 months and one will get 50 phacos (phaco+trab included). 

• Yag laser procedures are plenty, one can get SLT and MIGS procedures in the later part of fellowship based on their individual performance. 

• Initial exposure to GDD can also be expected. 

• OPD load is very heavy so patient management part will be very strong after the fellowship. 

• Academics is decent with bi-weekly journal clubs and regular classes. 

• Additional duties like camps, cataract surgery rounds and night duties are part of the fellowship and can get hectic at times. 

• Stipend is 40k for the first year and 50k for the second year. 

  
  

• Overall it's a good fellowship with lots of patient exposure and good amount of cutting. 

• The only problem is the very remote location of the hospital with limited scope of personal enjoyment.