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NAME OF THE INSTITUTE
Sankara Eye Hospital, Marathahalli, Bengaluru
STIPEND & FEES
- Monthly Remuneration: ₹40,000
- Admission Fee: None.
- Caution Deposit: ₹80,000 (Equivalent to 2 months’ stipend).
- Deduction Schedule: ₹40k in the 1st month, then ₹20k each in the 2nd and 3rd months.
- Refund: Returned in full upon completion of the 2-year tenure.
DURATION
24 Months (2 Years)
(Split: 6 Months General Ophthalmology + 18 Months Oculoplasty Specialty)
HONEST REVIEW
- Selection & Intake: One fellow per center is typically inducted every January and July via a competitive exam and interview. The program concludes with a formal exit examination.
- Cataract Training (High Volume):
- SICS: Starts in the 1st month. Fellows are assigned two cataract OT days per week. If efficient, a fellow can perform high volumes of SICS (up to 25 cases per session).
- Phacoemulsification: Introduced in the final 10 months. Fellows can expect an impressive average of 200–300 Phaco cases.
- Note: There is no training for topical phaco; surgeries are performed under anesthesia. No financial penalties are imposed for cataract complications.
- Oculoplasty Surgical Hands-on:
- Schedule: Two dedicated Oculoplasty OT days per week.
- Procedures: Extensive hands-on for External DCR, Ptosis correction, Blepharoplasty, and Entropion/Ectropion repair. Training also includes Botox injections and pediatric procedures like NLD probing.
- Orbit & Oncology: Excellent exposure to orbital tumors. However, intraocular tumors (Retinoblastoma, Melanoma) are managed by the Vitreo-Retinal department.
- Rotations & Peripheral Postings: Fellows may be posted to other Sankara branches (potentially out-of-state) to assist with high cataract loads or for specific specialty exposure.
- Work Culture & Duties:
- General Phase (First 6 Months): Includes the intense “Weekly Night Duty” (8 PM – 8 AM) for seven consecutive days. You manage incoming camp patients and nocturnal emergencies.
- Specialty Phase: Transition to specialty-specific night calls, which are generally not busy. Standard hours are 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (earlier starts for GA cases).
- Academic Requirements: Mandatory completion of at least one presentation and one publication to receive a full fellowship certificate.
PERSONAL OPINION
Sankara Bengaluru offers a rare “dual-mastery” fellowship. While most Oculoplasty programs sacrifice cataract volume, this track ensures you graduate as an independent Phaco surgeon (200+ cases) while simultaneously mastering the “bread and butter” of Oculoplasty. It is an ideal choice for someone who wants to be a high-volume cataract surgeon with a strong sub-specialty niche in reconstructive and lacrimal surgery.
