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Published on: January 27
Read Time: 1 min
Updated: February 4
Fellowship Overview
NAME OF THE HOSPITAL: Sri Sankara Deva Netralaya (SSDN), Guwahati
STATE: Assam
STIPEND: ₹40,000/month
DURATION: 2 Years
Honest Review of the Fellowship
This is a structured cornea fellowship with moderate surgical exposure, largely influenced by donor availability and case volume.
Intake: 1 fellow per year
Selection Process: Interview
The first month is primarily orientation. From the second month onwards, fellows start OPD and rotate under different consultants every 2–3 months. Surgical training begins early with step-wise involvement in corneal procedures.
Training Experience
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Surgical steps in corneal procedures begin from 2nd month
Keratoplasty Exposure:
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Limited number of penetrating keratoplasties due to low donor availability
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Start with therapeutic KPs → progress to optical KPs
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Approximate department volume: ~3 keratoplasties/month
Other Surgical Exposure:
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Pterygium surgery
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C3R (Corneal Collagen Cross-Linking)
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AMG (Amniotic Membrane Grafting)
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MMG (Mucous Membrane Grafting)
Lamellar Surgery:
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Limited exposure
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~1–2 DALK cases towards the end of fellowship
Refractive Surgery:
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PRK and FemtoLASIK performed in department
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No hands-on experience provided
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No SMILE procedures
Other Points:
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Learn patient selection and workup
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No phaco training (may get cataract cases only if already proficient in SICS)
Work Culture & Duties
Working Hours: 9 AM – 5:30 PM
Academics:
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Daily classes at 8 AM (compulsory for all fellows)
Department: Somewhat hectic but non-toxic
Consultants: Friendly and approachable
Duties:
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At least 1 night duty/month
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1 Sunday hospital duty/month
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1 Sunday posting at peripheral center/month
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No camp duties
Personal Opinion
This fellowship is suitable for those interested in cornea with gradual surgical exposure. However, surgical volume—especially keratoplasty—is limited due to donor availability.
Refractive surgery exposure is observational only, and phaco training is not included. Candidates looking for high surgical numbers or refractive hands-on may find this program limited.
Note
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