Duration 2 yrs 2-3 fellow taken every 6 months Selection- interview Stipend 58k No adult cataract training included  During fellowship, you're posted at their main centre NN-1 for 1 yr and another centre NN-4 for 1 yr [For those who didn't know, NN has 5 centres. The main hospital is NN-1.] You're started on surgeries in 2nd or 3rd month.. mostly squints and paed cataracts that are given  You are given hands-on for all kinds of squint cases (except complex squints).. most other places give more of horizontal muscle surgeries but here you get that along with vertical and oblique muscles as well You may also be given steps for the occasional re-surgery (after a failed first squint sx) You are able to do common squints independently by the end. Paed cataract cases are given in 1st yr but numbers tend to be less (like in other places). No other surgeries given beyond these two. OP exposure is good, you see good variety of cases... NN-4 sees Neuro-Ophthal cases along with Paed Ophthal so you get neuro exposure when posted there Work timings 8-6 pm Dept is hectic Not toxic Academics- you have regular classes  On call- evening OP duties (6pm -8 pm) are assigned per turn based on no: of fellows available  You get one Sunday duty (9-5 pm) per month and one night duty per month  No camp duties No peripheral postings You have ROP posting for 2 weeks in the last month (mostly observation, no hands-on).

Duration 1.5 yrs 1 fellow taken every 1.5 yrs Selection- interview Stipend 58k No cataract training included  Fellowship is at their main centre NN-1 You're started on simple procedures by 2nd month like DCR and lid repairs.. and then gradually the hands-on increases with time  You get all common lid surgeries, even Botox injections (not cosmetic ones though) OP exposure is good You get to do independent cases by the end depending on your skill In the last 6 months, you will be sent for Oncology exposure to NN-2 once a week Recently they've also started an Aesthetic Clinic in NN-1 (otherwise you will be posted in NN-4 for exposure to cosmetic procedures like botox, fillers etc) Work timings 8-6 pm Dept not too hectic Not toxic Classes 1-2 times a month On call- you have one 24 hrs duty per month, and recently they've started posting Orbit fellows for Sunday duties as well  No camp duties No peripheral postings Good fellowship with confidence to do independent surgeries by the end. Oncology exposure is limited, though.

Duration 2 years Fellows taken throughout the year depending on vacancy  Selection- After interview and 1 day observership at the hospital  4 fellows taken per session Stipend 20k for first year, 25k in second year No phaco training.  First 1- 1.5 yrs you do mostly Medical Retina (retina investigations) Surgical retina training starts after 1st yr or in last 7-8 months of fellowship. Intravit injections given after first 2-3 months  Lasers given only in last 7-8 months  Daily OT and OP.... OT is elective and happens in 3 sessions till 1 pm every day depending on how many pts opt for same day surgery and get added from the running OP. No surgery cases posted after 2 pm. You're given steps initially and then given cases based on how well you pick up   May get some independent cases towards the end depending on your skill. No hands-on for macular surgeries  Clinical exposure is good  ROP exposure minimal Not too hectic, consultants are all friendly and approachable  Work timings 9- 5pm Saturdays half day, work is 9 - 2 / 2.30 pm Sundays off (except if posted to see post-op pts)  No peripheral postings  No night calls  No Sunday duties  No camp duties. No formal classes, mostly self-learning  There are "doubt classes" held every Tues where fellows do PPT presentations Leaves are not an issue, plus some public holidays are off too For doctors who already have good surgical training (or some surgical retina exposure) prior to joining, this fellowship will be adequate to become an independent surgeon by the end.

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.

Duration 1.5 years 3-4 fellows taken every 6 months Selection- exam followed by interview  Stipend- 40k (80k deducted from salary as caution deposit, refunded at end of fellowship) First 6 months is General Ophthal for all fellows and then fellows go to their respective depts... IOL fellows continue in General Ophthal for the rest of fellowship.. they see all cases in OP and then refer to speciality dept for management.. not allowed to treat any case on your own. You are started on SICS from the 3rd month in Gen Ophthal. First 6 months OTs are less, thereafter your chances increase. You are given advanced cataract cases and learn complication management (ant vitrectomy, iris claw) when doing SICS. Phaco cases are given only in last 6 months and that too, only 1 phaco case per week. Will get around 30 cases total in last 6 months. No advanced cases given for phaco. No topical phacos given. Work timings 9 am - 6 pm, work can go beyond 6  Dept is bit hectic No periphery postings No night duties in first 6 months, thereafter you get night duties once a month Sunday duties once a month You exit fellowship as a good SICS surgeon but phaco experience is inadequate and needs more exposure post fellowship. (Some fellows join back at Sankara for their paid short term phaco training to get more hands-on)

Duration 2 years  03 fellows taken every 6 months Selection- MCQ exam followed by interview  Stipend- 40k Caution deposit of 80k kept (40k deducted from 1st month salary, 20k from 2nd and 20k from 3rd months)- refunded at the end  First 6 months you are posted in General Ophthal dept First 2 months you see only OP You start getting cataracts from 2nd-3rd month onwards- SICS cases You enter Cornea dept from 7th month onwards, cataract OT reduce to 2 days in a month Phaco given only in the last 3 months, around 20-30 cases Advanced cataracts given for sics, not for phaco No topical phacos given  You get good hands-on for keratoplasties- therapeutic, optical, patch graft and other surgeries like C3R, corneal repair, MMG etc Lamellar keratoplasties done but limited hands-on- only for DALK towards the end of fellowship  You get exposure to refractive procedures but no hands-on given  Work timings 9- 6 pm, work can go even up to 7.30 at times Dept is hectic Daily classes at 8 am Sunday camp duties + (1-2/ month) Night duties once a month Enucleation calls every month (1-2) Pre-op evening workup (7-9pm/ 8-10pm) for camp cataract pts is there once a week every month  Night duties once a month and it's continuous (after 6 pm OPD you continue night duty till next day and then join OPD directly after night call), no comp offs You are expected to do 1 publication and 1 presentation during fellowship- this is compulsory  Exit exam +

1 year fellowship. 1 fellow taken per session. First 9 months SICS- they get around 500 cases. Last 3 months phaco- 100 phacos, clear corneal incision and foldable IOLs (we have the Oertli and Legion phaco machines). CTR, MST (multiple sphincterotomy), iris claw, everything fellows get during 9 months SICS training. Trab, pterygium, DCR, intravitreal injections also given to fellow. As of July 2025, 23 fellows have been trained (including short term fellows). We felt keeping 18-24 months for an IOL fellowship is a waste of time for fellows, hence decided to keep it only 1 year duration. After 1 year, some fellows join here as consultant for 6 more months to do private topical phaco. We give 25k stipend and free accommodation in hospital premises. Sessions start from January and June. Selection by interview- the CMO interviews applicants to be sure about their eagerness to learn.

It was 18 months at first, then they changed to 24 months in 2024 but now there is talk of reverting back to 18 months from next batch onwards (Jan 2026). Selection is by interview (no written exam). 1-2 fellows taken per session (based on need). Taken twice a year (Jan, July). Email them with your CV and fellowship of interest, they don't usually reply but will call you when the time comes. For those looking to join the Jan batch, start sending your applications from Oct and for those looking at the July, start from April. Stipend 30k in 1st yr, increased to 35k in 2nd yr. Clinical exposure is very good, you see all kinds of cases. Phaco training is included but you start with SICS at first, given phaco only in 2nd yr to last 6 months, usually 1 phaco per week. You get only penetrating keratoplasties (PKs)- therapeutic PK is started at 6 months, optical PK at 12 months. Good exposure for lamellar surgeries and refrac procedures but no hands-on. You also get amniotic grafts, C3R, pterygiums, tarsorraphies, corneal tears etc Dept is very hectic. Op usually finishes at 4 pm followed by camp duty for whichever cornea fellow is posted that day- this duty is to see cornea referrals in the camp pts who come, not for cataract pre-op workup. Classes are there- about 2-4 per month.

Duration= 1.5 yrs They take 2 fellows per session OT is twice a week and in first 6 months, you will be doing mostly SICS (3 SICS/ OT) Trab hands-on starts after 6 months. And in final 6 months, they train you in phaco and you get phaco-trabs. On an average you can expect to get 40 combined trab cases. OP is from 8- 4.30 pm so it's not hectic, dept is also cool. Clinical exposure is good, patient load is high. You get plenty of hands-on in lasers and other glaucoma op procedures. You will have evening op duties 2-3 times a month and camp duties 5-6/ month. No night duties. Stipend= 30,000/ month. You also get exposure to MIGS and GATT in the last 6 months, can expect hands-on for few cases.

I went there for a 3 week hands-on phaco training in 2025 which included 15 cases. I extended it for another week for 5 extra cases at extra cost. One case is given each day but they are flexible and cases can be adjusted if required.  In the morning, you get to observe all the paying phaco and discuss or enquire any questions you might have. You can also observe other surgeries if you are free. Hands-on is done after the paying list is completed, usually in the afternoon. After that, you are free.  The consultants are helpful and approachable. Different consultants teach you on different days. So you get to observe and learn different techniques. They are patient and guide you. They do not take over the case unless you’ve messed up real bad. If you’re stuck during a step, they tell you how to do it and let you proceed.  Phacos are taught through a corneal incision with a foldable IOL. Wet lab is also there to practice in your free time.  Overall it was a great experience and they make sure that you learn phaco by the time you’re done. They charge 5500 + 18% GST per  extra case. Fee (as of 2025) was 1,05,000 + 18% GST for 3 weeks, 15 cases. They do provide single accommodation for 2500 per night.

No short term phaco trainings here. Only long term :- 18 months 2 fellows taken per session. Every alternate day OPD and OT. OPD :- See pts and refer them for cataract and if needed, to other specialties. Major emphasis on cataract as there are other specialty fellows who look into their respective specialty.  OPD timings:- 8:30 - 3:30 Duties of fellow:- Morning 7-7:30, all fellows reach. Some see post op pts while others do remaining paperwork. Then OPD/OT. After 3:30, depending upon camp distance, pts come and fellows do work up.  20-30 pts on average come in camp. Camps are all days expect Saturday.  Average daily OT list is 50 pts. For the first 3 months, the fellow has to do camp work up everyday. Then after 3 months, he/she has to do camp work only on their call days. Call duty frequency is every 3 days.  For the first 6 months, SICS are given. Roughly 2 cases per OT.  So 25-30 cases in a month. Depending upon progress and learning curve, phacos are started after 6 months.  All seniors are great and patient teachers. Will even help you in wet lab for refining and correcting your mistakes.  Roughly you will get 100 phacos by the end of fellowship. Salary :- 22k per month No accommodation provided. Have to find your own. Timings for fellow:- 7-7:30 am up till when camp work up gets done. Usually by 10 pm as lots of paperwork.  For the first 3 months, it's hectic. Plus on call days, you have to stay in hospital. Other days, you are  free by 5-5.30 pm.

It's 1.5 years (18 months) duration, 1 fellow taken per session. No adult cataracts given to operate for anyone in any department except General Ophthal (including consultants). Surgical hands-on starts by month 5-6 (cases are less in March and April due to children's exams) Clinical exposure is very good. You also get to evaluate cases and measure squints yourself. Dept- no toxicity. Consultants are approachable.  Continuous chutti ka thoda sa problem hai (translation- they don't give long leaves) because Sundays and public holidays are anyway off. It is not hectic. Working hours are 7.5- 8 hours a day max, with Sundays and public holidays off. Consultants train you. Both junior and senior consultants. I got good number of muscles, around 35+. Superior oblique I didn't get as no case came by the time I was competent enough to do one. It depends on how many cases come during your duration.  Got roughly 10 paediatric cataracts including cases with posterior capsulorrhexis and ant vitrectomy. This also depends on how many cases come during your time. Also got to do 4 intravitreals in ROP babies and a lot of ROP lasers. Haven't counted lasers, since I did many ROP lasers. Camp duties- very less. Night calls 0. Specialty fellows don't do calls as of now (2025).