Vitreo-Retina Surgery Fellowship review @ Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai, Tamil Nadu

Duration- 24 months

Structure-

~1–2 months General Ophthalmology, ~1 month Uvea, Remaining period in Retina

Phaco Training- not included in the official curriculum.

Some fellows gain cataract surgery experience during general postings, especially if placed in peripheral centers.

Retina surgical hands-on typically starts around the 4th month of the fellowship.

Early months are focused on observation, assisting, and gaining clinical knowledge. You get mostly steps in surgeries, less chances to operate independent cases. Many fellows join after fellowship as Medical Officers (MOs) to gain more surgical experience.

Clinical Exposure- extremely rich, almost every textbook case is seen, at least in follow-up if not in primary presentation.

Cases include many managed by renowned retinal surgeons, providing unique learning opportunities.

Work Environment- hectic across the board.

Many fellows describe it as "hectic but educationally rewarding."

Teaching and Mentorship- no fixed one-to-one mentoring. Training is distributed—you learn from a mix of consultants, fellows, and observation.

Self-initiative plays a big role in learning.

Hands-on Surgical Training- fellows typically perform 200–250 VR procedures independently by the end of the fellowship. The actual number may vary based on individual surgical aptitude and confidence. Includes common VR procedures.

Peripheral Postings & On-Call Duties

Peripheral postings in VR are now rare.

Night duties: About once every 2 months

Sunday duties: Around once every 3 months

Camp duties are not routine during the retina fellowship