Vitreo-Retinal Surgery Fellowship @ Aravind Eye Hospital, Pondicherry

Duration 2/ 3 yrs, depending on which one you opt for.

Fellows taken throughout the year depending on vacancy 

Fellows who agree to 3 yrs are taken in sooner, 2 yr fellows have to wait for next available slot (can be up to a year in advance)

Selection- interview

Stipend 40k for first yr, 50k in second yr

No phaco training. 

First 3 months you are posted in Gen Ophthal (except for the 3 yr fellowshp where you're posted for 1 yr in Gen Ophthal)

From 4th month (or 1 year later for 3 yr fellows) you are posted in Retina dept and start getting lasers and intravit injections in the 5th or 6th month.. you also start retina OT from 6th month.

You start with steps and then get to do more and more as your skills progress. You are even given independent cases towards the end depending on your skill.

You also get to do macular surgeries and TRD surgeries if your hands are good.. however fellows with poor tissue handling skills may not get chances.

Clinically, OPD is good and you get to see almost every retina case.

ROP exposure minimal- mostly screening, no chances for ROP lasers

Oncology cases seen once in a while 

Dept is hectic

Work starts from 7.30 and can go up to 6.30 or 7 pm

Night calls once a month 

Once every 3-4 months you may get a Sunday duty 

No camp duties.

No formal classes, mostly self-learning.

Overall, you get more surgical hands-on for VR fellowship in Aravind Pondicherry compared to Aravind Madurai.