IOL + Medical Retina Fellowship review @ Giridhar Eye Hospital, Kochi, Kerala

Duration 18 months

2 fellows taken/session

Stipend 50k

Selection for very 1st batch was by interview but next batch fellows were selected on recommendations given by senior professors

1 fellow is posted for 1 yr in IOL while the other fellow works 6 months in MR after which both switch

IOL part of fellowship

1 year duration.

OT is 3 days/ week (Tues, Thurs, Sat) and you get 1 case per OT, number increases as speed and skill picks up. 

Starts with SICS and then as soon as you have mastered it, you move on to phaco.

Phaco training can start after 6 months, again 1 case per OT (if you already know SICS well, your phaco hands-on starts earlier)

1st batch fellows did some 100+ SICS over 6 months and then 60 phacos over next 6 months.

On non-OT days, work starts from 8.30, goes till 6.30. In OP, you are with Sai sir (Dr Saikumar) working up and seeing sir's pts.

On OT days you have to be in OT by 7.30 and while OT is over by 3, work gets over only by 6.

Sunday post-op rounds to be done by the IOL fellow.

MR part of fellowship

6 months duration.

You get good amount of lasers (PRP, barrage) and injections (intravitreals, ozurdex implants)

Common to both fellows:

Sunday calls (1/month) and night calls (3/month as 2nd on call to PGs) are also there.

Fellows go for Sunday camps every alternate month.

No peripheral postings.

Overall, a decent fellowship to get trained in phaco while also picking up medical retina skills.