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NAME OF THE INSTITUTE
Sankara Nethralaya (SN), Main Campus (College Road) & Guindy Branch, Chennai
(The dual-specialty track at SN is one of the most prestigious clinical fellowships in Asia, known for its unparalleled diagnostic complexity and academic depth.)
STIPEND & SELECTION
- Monthly Remuneration: ₹55,000
- Selection Process: Competitive national-level entrance exam (MCQ) followed by a personal interview.
- Intake: Usually 1–2 fellows per session.
- Language Tip: High patient inflow from North and East India means knowing Hindi or Bengali is a significant advantage. If you don’t know them, expect a steep learning curve in patient communication.
DURATION
24 Months (2 Years)
- Structure: 1 Year dedicated to Medical Retina + 1 Year dedicated to Uveitis & Ocular Inflammation.
HONEST REVIEW
1. Uvea Posting (The Clinical Gold Standard)
- Exposure: Exceptional. You will see every possible “textbook” and “rare” case of infectious and non-infectious uveitis.
- Surgical Training (The Guindy Rotation):
- Cataract Training: Includes one full month of dedicated cataract posting at the Guindy branch.
- Techniques: You are trained in ECCE and Blumenthal SICS, followed by Phacoemulsification.
- Volume: Relatively low (~40 SICS and ~10 Phaco cases).
- Note: This track is designed for clinical specialists, not high-volume surgeons. Complex cataracts are given to fellows primarily for SICS.
2. Medical Retina Posting
- OPD Exposure: High volume. You rotate monthly with different consultants, gaining a deep understanding of retinal vascular diseases and dystrophies.
- Hands-on & Procedures:
- Lasers: Primarily allotted in the last 2 months of the MR year. Expect roughly 100 lasers.
- Injections: Conservative allotment (10–20 cases). For specialized procedures like Ozurdex implants, AC Taps, or PST (Posterior Sub-Tenon) injections, you must be proactive and request cases.
- ROP: Exposure is strictly clinical/OPD. No hands-on for ROP lasers or pediatric injections.
3. Work Culture & Duties
- Daily Routine: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (varies on OT days).
- OT Role: Two days a week with consultants. Duties involve significant administrative/file entry work and surgical observation. No Vitrectomy hands-on is provided in this track.
- Calls: * Night Duty: Twice a month.
- Ward Duty: Twice a month.
- Sunday Duty: Once a month.
- Intensity: Described as “not hectic” compared to the Vitreo-Retinal (VR) track.
PERSONAL OPINION
The SN Medical Retina & Uvea fellowship is a “Clinician’s Paradise” but a “Surgeon’s Compromise.” It is the ideal choice for an ophthalmologist who wants to be a top-tier consultant in a tertiary referral center or start a high-end medical practice. If you are looking for high cataract numbers or independent Vitrectomies, this is not the program for you. However, the diagnostic “eye” you develop here for uveitic mimics and complex retinal scans is among the best in the world.
