I (reviewer) completed a two-week short-term phaco training program at Srikiran Institute of Ophthalmology, Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh. (The history of this hospital if you know it's one of the most heart breaking story I've encountered in my life.) My real life hero is the founder of this place. Key Highlights: - Completed 25 phaco cases in 2 weeks (9 OT days), possibly the fastest in India - Course fee: ₹75,000 - Personalized trainer Bindu ma'am is very good, she will guide each and every step. - Opportunity to observe senior surgeons like Avinash sir and interact with him is real best. - Friendly, skilled staff and zero-stress environment - Comprehensive training: handled various cases (NS-1 to NS-4, small pupils) Training Experience- The program offered hands-on experience with direct chop techniques. I performed surgeries under expert guidance, honing my skills in cataract management, phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation. Logistics- - Food: Decent canteen available, but I mostly ordered food from outside. - Accommodation: Females- outside hostel, Males- inside campus (recommended) Highly recommend Srikiran Institute's short-term phaco training program to all aspiring ophthalmologists.

Duration 18 months Stipend 40k in 1st yr, 50k in 2nd yr No phaco training included  Fellows taken every 4-5 months, on need basis 1st four months are Gen Ophthal posting. Then 5th month onwards, you are posted in Paed Ophthal dept. From 6th month onwards, they start giving you single muscle surgeries step wise and based on how well you pick up, you will be given more surgeries and even independent chances.  Can expect to operate on approx 50-60 muscles. Paed cataracts hands-on are less, average is 15-20 per fellow, fellows who do poorly may get even less. You are taught to use I&A probe of phaco for cataract emulsification.. but not taught phaco per se. You get exposure to other surgeries like botox injections given in squints or complex squint/ cataract surgeries in babies- but no hands-on given. OP is very hectic, works starts 7.30 goes till 6 pm  No NLD probings since those are done by Orbit dept No Neuro-Ophthal posting like in Aravind Madurai. Fellows get evening duty (6-7.30 pm OP only) once a month, night duty once a month and 2 camps every month Very last month you will have 15 days of ROP + 15 days of Orbit postings. ROP posting you shadow a VR fellow/ consultant, no hands-on there. In Orbit posting you can observe for NL D probings.

Duration 2 yrs 1st year in Kolkata, 2nd yr in Chennai Stipend 55k 2 fellows per session The number of PGs and consultants in Kolkata are less so it's more hectic since more workload and duties fall on the fellows. 7-8 call duties in a month, alternate Sunday rounds. 1st month is shadowing period where you tag with a consultant, you are given procedures like B scans and lasers to be done.  Hands-on for surgeries start within 2-3 months, depending on the consultant you are posted with, you are given steps. Good range of cases seen in op, very busy. Work timings 9- 5.30/6 ROP exposure is less compared to Chennai, you are sent to an outside hospital infrequently for ROP screening but you don't get hands-on for lasers or intravit injections. Academics- weekly one class, common for all PGs and fellows  2nd yr you are posted in Chennai, there you get more cases and hands-on with regards to procedures and surgeries. Last 6 months you are an SR and can post independent retina cases which you will operate. (This fellowship is well-recommended by the reviewer.)

2 years  Selection by Interview Fellow intake happen at fixed time.. January session usually and July session  Stipend- 40k per month with free optional accommodation  1 VR fellow taken per session No phaco/ cataract training  You are given steps in retina cases and gradually progress but you get complete surgeries at end of fellowship (independent macular hole surgeries are given fully to the fellow). Clinical exposure is good, you see every textbook case. Hectic work environment but not toxic.. it's very conducive to learning and very good academics. Dedicated senior consultants for surgical teaching. Plenty of retinal lasers and intravit injections given to fellows. Common retina surgeries fellows get hands-on in-- Nucleus drop, RRD, TRD, Macular hole surgery (full) at the end of fellowship  Good ROP exposure with ROP lasers also given to fellows Everyday evening camp duties after retina opd/ OT.. this is general camp for screening of patients then posting them for cataract surgery.. but VR fellows (even consultants) aren't allowed to do cataract surgeries  Academics- regular classes everyday at 7am  Daily work timings 8am to 6pm, sometimes upto 8pm No bond/ admission fee. (Note- The fellowship trainer at the time this review was submitted has left the Institute so the fellowship features going forth from 2025 may not reflect this review.)

Recently started (2023) Duration 2 years As of now they have had only 1 VR fellow who finishes this year No new VR fellow intake happened in 2024 or 2025 Selection- exam+ interview Stipend 70k in 1st yr, 80k in 2nd yr No admission fees/ caution deposits. No bond. Phaco training not included. But if you know SICS/ phaco, they may give you few cataract cases per month. There are many retina consultants but you primarily tag with Ganesh sir (Dr Ganesh Pillai). The first 6 months-1 year you sit with sir in OP and see cases with him teaching you findings et al.. afterwards you are put on independent OP duty. Hands-on start initially with intravit injections from 1st month itself, then you progress to making ports.. by 2nd-4th month you get SOR and start with steps in other retinal surgeries.  Last 3-4 months you start getting cases to do independently based on ur skill. TRD surgeries given in last few months only. For macular hole surgeries, you get all steps except ILM peeling step. Hands-on for retinal lasers tend to be less since most pts are paying and prefer to get it done by senior consultant.. camp cases are given for retinal lasers when available. ROP exposure is minimal, they don't see many referrals, no screenings. OP sees a good range of retina cases. Work timings 10-7 pm or 11-8 pm, may rarely go till 10 pm also Hectic but not toxic No peripheral postings  No night duties Sunday duties 1-2/ month Academics- regular classes, 2 per week.

1.5 yr fellowship Only those knowing SICS are selected since fellow will be supervising PGs when they are operating. You can call in between if you can’t deal may be a PCR/ difficult prolapse .. but sir expects you to manage simple complications. Later, bigger ones also. If you know SICS, you are given paying patients to operate. Phaco case volume for training is comparatively less . You get only steps. But you will be able to learn. Ample volume of refractive procedures is there. But hands-on is given quite late. YAG cap you will get, that’s very simple, if you do 2-3 of those, you will learn. Work is extremely light compared to other similar fellowship programs. Some Sundays you may have to come for half day duties.

Selection- exam+ interview on same day  2 fellows taken per session (1 surgical &1 med retina fellow) No phaco training (but if you know phaco, you can do few phaco cases per month). Stipend 60k in 1st yr, 65k in 2nd yr They start you on intravitreals in 1st month and retinal lasers by end of 1st month. Retinal surgery hands-on is started after 1st month, based on your dexterity and how well you pick up.. ports making, SO removal, vitrectomy etc There are 2 main retina consultants who are in charge of your training Based on skill and progress, you may get few independent cases to do towards end of fellowship.  Good clinical/OP exposure to retina cases. ROP exposure is decent- you are trained in screening and given few cases but no intravitreals done in ROP babies. Academics- online classes via Zoom twice a week (pan-india) Work timings 9 - 9 for 1st yr fellows, 8 - 8/8.30 pm for 2nd yr fellows Night duties are on rotation basis between fellows in all depts

3 year duration Stipend 50k x first 2 years, 70k in last 15 months Selection- online exam+ interview Fellow intake- number variable, depends on need per campus, usually 1-2 fellows per campus, can be 4-5 fellows for the main KAR campus in Hyderabad  First 9 months is comprehensive ophthal posting, fellow is rotated thru all specialities for 1 month And for 2 months in his own speciality dept During this time they are trained in SICS, phaco, pterygiums, intravit injections etc Next 12 months  they are posted to a secondary centre which they manage solely, seeing op and posting cases Some secondary centres do more of SICS while others do equal proportions of SICS and phaco  You do at least 1000 surgeries in a secondary centre per year. Last 15 months  is exclusive speciality posting In PaedO you get good exposure and hands-on for all squints, both simple and complex  You also get paed cataracts, 50+ cases Neuro-Ophthal cases are also seen exclusively by Paed Ophthal so good exposure for that as well. 1 month ROP posting in VR dept where you primarily learn ROP screening.  May get few intravit injections but no ROP lasers given.  During your fellowship, if you want to be posted to any of their other campuses to work with/shadow some eminent faculty, you can also request for the same and they make allowance for it. Academics- classes every day, strict entry before 7 am is mandatory. 3 days classes for all fellows. Other 3 days classes for particular speciality fellows.  No camp duties for fellows in LVP. No bond post fellowship. ----------- They have another program called "Fellow to Faculty" where if selected, you do only speciality for 2 yrs. You get phaco training in this too but case numbers are less than those that 3 yr fellows get. Also after the 2 yrs, you agree to 3 yrs consultancy posting with LVP (bond, in other words).

2 years duration Selection- by MCQ exam and interview One fellow taken per year, one fellow per session  No phaco training  Stipend- ₹50,000 first year, ₹55,000 second year Retina surgery training  • Initially start with steps  • Independent minor surgeries (SOR / vitreous hemorrhage) by end of first year  • Independent retinal detachment / macular hole surgeries by the end of fellowship Clinical exposure- Very good, you see almost every textbook case Work environment- Not hectic or toxic There is a dedicated senior consultant who trains you  You get 400–500 + lasers and intravit injections Common retina surgeries fellows perform- Vitrectomy for vitreous hemorrhage, SOR, retinal detachment repair, macular hole surgery, etc. ROP exposure is good, hands-on limited to ROP lasers only No peripheral postings, on-call duties on alternate days and Sundays Academics- weekly one class Daily work timings 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM No bond, no caution deposits.

Selection- MCQ exam+ interview  2 fellows every 6 months Stipend 75k Admission fee= 2 lacs, non-refundable No phaco/cataract surgeries 1st yr is exclusively medical retina work- you do lots of retinal lasers, B scans, FFAs, intravitreals injections etc.. starts after 1st month Start getting steps from 2nd yr onwards.. you get steps in simple vitrectomies, tractions, scleral bands, buckles etc  As your proficiency gets better they give you steps in more complex cases  For complicated cases like TRD, you don't get to do the whole case, you may get only steps You also get to do ILM peeling in macular surgeries in few cases Fellows are usually not allowed to operate cases independently. OP- clinical exposure is good, you see many diff cases Work is 9-6 pm ROP exposure is very minimal since patient load is low Sunday duties once every alternate month Night duties once a week Rarely there might be peripheral posting at one of their smaller centres

It is a paid fellowship.  I (reviewer) had selected "screening and management" category in their main campus under Dr. Anand Vinekar.  There are other categories like screening alone, machine diagnostics alone (mainly for health workers), screening+ machine diagnostics+ treatment.  The ROP fellow will travel with the KIDROP team to different districts in Karnataka for four days a week.  The remaining two days, the fellow will stay back in the department for lasers.  Sundays are holidays. The KIDROP team technicians are very knowledgeable. They will teach you the screening part.  There would be one retina fellow who would be doing their ROP posting along with you.  The screening cases will be divided between them and you. Indirect ophthalmoscope is provided to you. But you should carry your own 20D lens. There would be around atleast 5 to 10 babies for screening daily. You will get atleast 2 lasers per laser day.  The fee is 15,000 per week. You may mention how many weeks you might need in your mail. Most of the candidates opt for 2 weeks. Selection process is by mailing them with your CV. The contact details are provided in their website. Stay is not provided by the hospital. However the contacts for the accommodation places are given. It is important that you do the screening and management in your practice regularly, starting soon after your short term fellowship.

Duration- 18 months  Selection- by exam followed by interview  They take 1 fellow per session  Stipend- 55k 1st month is orientation period where you shadow an assigned fellow (of any specialty) in OP and OT Thereafter you are posted to different specialty depts for a month x next 17 months. No cataract surgeries given in main SN hospital. It's in your posting at JCOC (their camp hospital) that you are given cataracts. You get 3 rotations of JCOC posting. SICS given initially- 100 cases promised Phaco given only in the last month and 3rd JCOC posting- only 30 phacos  No training in difficult cataracts or managing complications. You may get pterygiums and Yag caps.. no other procedures/ surgeries given  Hectic work environment  The consultant under whom you are posted with teaches you. Academics- regular classes, fellows attend with PGs, also have to give monthly internal exams.