Vitreo-Retina Surgery Fellowship review @ Agarwal Eye Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

2 years duration 

Selection by Interview- fixed intake, twice in a year

Stipend 30k

No: of fellows taken is variable depending on their needs, generally two.

Includes phaco training.

Supracapsular phaco is done here. (Admin note- Phaco technique in Agarwal's is not the standard taught in other hospitals, here they do what is called Supracapsular phaco where the cataract is popped out of the bag and then emulsified in AC.)

Not really sure how seniors who have passed out with supracapsular technique are faring outside. Most already know other phaco techniques before joining or join back at Agarwal's after the fellowship.

Hands-on starts after 6 months, stepwise progression to individual cases, Senior consultants train you.

Ocular tumors and pediatric ROP cases exposure is lesser.

Hectic yes.

Not sure I can quantify the numbers for VR fellows, but definitely more than sufficient. 

A Medical Retina person would get around 300-500 lasers, and about 25-50 injections over a 6 month period. 

Whereas a VR would get double that in the same period and more when considering 18 months are still left.

Good & experienced VR surgeons and Trainers

Surgical cases variety and volume are good too but subject to number of Foreign/Short term trainees, if they are more, then in-house fellows get lesser chances.

Among retinal surgeries, Vit hemorrhage forms the major bulk, followed by ERM, TRD, RRD and macular holes after one reaches sufficient level of competence. Secondary IOLs and nucleus drops too. 

But hands-on for these (secondary IOLs, nucleus drops) are shared also with every other speciality fellow in Agarwal's, since Amar sir (Dr Amar Agarwal) believes a competent phaco surgeon should know the above. 

ROP exposure is very minimal, no hands-on for lasers & intravit injections.

Plenty of peripheral postings are there. Because Agarwal's is one of the faster expanding corporate hospitals, fellows can find themselves suddenly posted without notice for duties at peripheral centres.

Camp duties once a month, night duties once a month

Classes are there but are not very regular .

Timings 8:30 to 6 pm with a caveat that OT sometimes starts at 6:30 am too.