Vitreo-Retinal Surgery Fellowship review @ Susrut Eye Foundation & Research Centre, Kolkata, west Bengal

Selection by interview, random intake on need basis

Stipend 90k per month for 2 years

Fellows per session- Depends but ranges from 1-3 , sometimes paid fellow also present (it's usually 6 Lakh for one year paid surgical VR without any stipend)

Duration of fellowship- 2 years .. Initially only lasers and anti vegf then gradually give steps of surgery

Any cataract/ phaco hands-on? Nil.. No ... Nada

First you develop medical retina skills with diagnosis and investigations (OPD postings) and OT postings are also there where intravit inj. are given... Gradually retinal lasers given under supervision but later they give full fledged laser room to perform lasers in all patients.

For surgery- they start with core vitrectomy- then nucleus drop cases of social/free segment- then steps of RD/ Macular hole surgeries.

Almost nil ROP surgeries exposure though.

Usually fellows exit the program with independent macular hole surgeries done.

Clinical exposure- depends on the consultant where you are posted - some see 30 pts per day where you will get to know indepth about everything from patient- disease - prognosis and some consultants see 100 pts per day so you get exposure in a rush setting also where you just diagnose and there isn't much discussion about the disease or topic .. usually lots of cases and a good variety.

It's non toxic and borderline hectic environment; slightly more than residency but not so hectic.

You get free at 6-7 pm everyday except rarely when some surgeon is still operating in OT (usually consultants tell fellows if they wish can leave).

All consultants train fellows- some give good hands on and some impart good clinical skills

Lots of lasers and intravit injection hands-on... enough to get you very bored and very confident.

No ROP hands on and very few cases of ROP screening- you get to examine a few cases in 2 years, that's it.

Peripheral postings- in Kolkata and Berhampore centre are given... Night calls equally divided between DNB and all fellows so maybe 1-2 night per month which is non hectic.. some1-5 pts per night duty.

Academics were lacking but now Retina dept conducts own dept classes without DNB where they have raised the quality of classes above DNB level.

Daily work timings- 8.30am to 5.30pm but it extends to 6-6.30pm usually

Bond of 3 years and they prefer local docs or docs who are willing to stay there.. No caution deposit... However bond is not rigidly enforced, if fellow is not willing they can intimate the management of the same and leave.

There are rumours that there is no bond anymore, this needs to be clarified at the time of selection interview.