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NAME OF THE INSTITUTE
Bangalore West Lions Super Speciality Eye Hospital, Bengaluru
STIPEND
- Monthly Remuneration: ₹50,000
- Fellowship Types: * RGUHS Fellows: Standard intake via the university.
- House Fellows: If RGUHS seats remain vacant, the hospital recruits “House Fellows” for a shorter 12-month tenure with identical clinical responsibilities.
DURATION
18 Months (1.5 Years) for RGUHS track; 12 Months for House Fellows.
HONEST REVIEW
- Selection & Accreditation: Admission is via an MCQ exam and interview. Being an RGUHS-affiliated program, it follows a structured syllabus and concludes with a formal university exit examination.
- Cataract Training: Training is limited to SICS only. There is no hands-on Phacoemulsification training provided in this track. Surgical exposure begins in the second month with a frequency of one OT session per week.
- Cornea Surgical Curve: Cornea OTs occur twice weekly. Fellows progress from minor procedures (Pterygium, C3R, AMG) to therapeutic and optical Keratoplasties. However, training is primarily steps-based; independent, start-to-finish transplants are rare.
- Refractive Limitations: Refractive surgery is not performed at the main hospital. Limited exposure to PRK is available through a rotation at an affiliated external facility, though hands-on experience is not guaranteed and depends heavily on the fellow’s demonstrated skill.
- Rotations & Peripheral Postings: Fellows are rotated to two branch clinics for week-long or 3-day blocks. While these are OPD-only postings with no surgical facilities, the hospital compensates for missed OT time by increasing case loads in the following week.
- Work-Life Balance: Standard hours are 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM. Night duties occur roughly once every 10 days (fellows are first-call, though volume is generally low). Sundays are mostly free, with one mandatory duty or outreach camp per month.
PERSONAL OPINION
This is a solid “Foundation” fellowship for those who want a university-recognized (RGUHS) certificate and a strong grounding in clinical cornea and SICS. It is particularly well-suited for candidates who plan to work in charitable or government setups where SICS and traditional Keratoplasty are the mainstays. However, it is not the right fit for surgeons looking to master Phacoemulsification or modern Femto-refractive technologies.
