Share This Article
NAME OF THE INSTITUTE
Sankara Eye Hospital, Guntur (Andhra Pradesh)
STIPEND
- Monthly Remuneration: ₹40,000
- Security Deposit: A caution deposit of ₹80,000 is required (collected via deductions of ₹40k in the 1st month and ₹20k each in the 2nd and 3rd months). This is fully refundable upon completion of the 2-year tenure.
DURATION
24 Months (2 Years)
HONEST REVIEW
- Selection & Induction: Inducts two fellows every six months through a competitive entrance exam and interview. Progression is monitored via a final exit examination.
- Phase 1 (Months 1–6): Focus is purely on medical retina and diagnostics. Expect heavy volume in B-scans, OCT interpretation, and an exhaustive number of retinal lasers and intravitreal injections.
- Surgical Progression: Hands-on surgical training commences after the first six months. It follows a structured curve: starting with port creation and basic vitrectomies, advancing to complex cases like TRD, CRD, and RRD in the final nine months.
- Clinical Breadth: Excellent exposure to rare cases as the VR department also manages Uveitis and Neuro-Ophthalmology. ROP exposure is currently limited to screening, though the recent acquisition of a RetCam is expected to enhance laser training.
- Limitations: This is a “pure” VR track. There is no Phacoemulsification training, and hands-on experience for Scleral Buckling or SFIOLs is minimal.
- Work Culture: Highly hectic but professionally supportive. Work hours for juniors typically span 8:00 AM to 8:30 PM, improving slightly with seniority.
- On-Call & Duties: Includes 2–3 duties per month (covering nights and weekends). VR fellows are generally exempt from outreach camps and periphery postings unless there is an acute staffing shortage.
- Academics: Strong focus on learning with weekly local classes and mandatory participation in the pan-India Sankara network online academic sessions.
PERSONAL OPINION
This is a premier “high-volume” surgical fellowship for those committed to a career in the posterior segment. The structured transition from medical diagnostics to complex vitreoretinal maneuvers ensures you graduate as a confident, independent VR surgeon. It is ideal for candidates who are comfortable with a demanding schedule and are not looking to maintain their anterior segment (Phaco) skills.
