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NAME OF THE INSTITUTE
Sankara Eye Hospital, Guntur (Andhra Pradesh)
STIPEND
- Monthly Remuneration: ₹40,000
- Security Deposit: An ₹80,000 caution deposit is collected via salary deductions. This amount is fully refundable upon the successful completion of the fellowship tenure.
DURATION
18 Months (1.5 Years)
HONEST REVIEW
- Selection & Intake: The institute inducts 3–4 fellows every six months. Candidates are selected based on a dedicated entrance examination followed by a personal interview.
- Clinical Structure: The first six months consist of a General Ophthalmology rotation for all sub-specialties. IOL fellows remain within the General Ophthalmology department for the entire duration, acting as the primary screening point for all OPD cases before referring specialty cases to other departments.
- Surgical Curve (SICS): Hands-on SICS training begins in the third month. While OT frequency is lower in the first half of the fellowship, it increases significantly thereafter. Fellows graduate with high proficiency in SICS, including complication management such as anterior vitrectomy and iris claw lens implantation.
- Phacoemulsification Training: Phaco exposure is limited and back-loaded. Training begins only in the final six months with a frequency of approximately one case per week, totaling around 30 cases. Advanced or topical phaco cases are generally not provided to fellows.
- Work Culture: The department maintains a hectic schedule with standard hours from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (often extending later).
- On-Call Duties: There are no periphery postings. Night duties commence after the first six months (once per month), along with mandatory Sunday duties once a month.
- Post-Fellowship Pathway: Many fellows find their Phaco experience insufficient for private practice. Consequently, some choose to enroll in the institute’s internal “Paid Short-Term Phaco Training,” which is currently exclusive to Sankara alumni.
PERSONAL OPINION
This program is essentially an “SICS Mastery” fellowship. It is an excellent choice for those who want to become exceptionally fast and safe in high-volume SICS and complication management. However, for those aiming to be “Phaco-ready” for premium urban practice, this fellowship will likely require supplementary short-term training elsewhere to bridge the surgical gap.
