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NAME OF THE INSTITUTE
Prasad Netralaya Super Specialty Eye Hospital, Udupi, Karnataka
(Affiliated with RGUHS; additional centers in Mangalore and Sullia.)
STIPEND & FEES
- Stipend: Typically ranges from ₹30,000 – ₹45,000 (Subject to institutional updates for the 2026 session).
- Admission Fee: Not explicitly mentioned in recent reviews, but a security deposit is common for RGUHS-affiliated private fellowships.
- Bond: Usually involves a standard 18-month commitment with penalties for mid-term resignation.
DURATION
18 Months (1.5 Years)
HONEST REVIEW
- The “Cataract First” Philosophy: Prasad Netralaya is unique in that all fellows (regardless of their sub-specialty—Retina, Glaucoma, or Cornea) receive extensive and near-equal hands-on training in cataract surgery.
- Surgical Progression:
- Early Start: Unlike many academic institutes that reserve Phaco for the final months, Prasad Netralaya allows fellows to start Phaco as early as the 3rd month, provided they show proficiency in SICS.
- Autonomy: Fellows are given “free hands” with cases. This includes managing complex cataracts, mature lenses, and surgical complications independently once basic competency is proven.
- Sub-Specialty Integration:
- Refractive: Exposure to LASIK and PRK is decent, with observation of premium IOL (Multifocal/Toric) workups.
- Cornea: Fellows in the Cornea track get significant hands-on for Penetrating Keratoplasty (PK).
- Retina: Medical retina (Lasers/Injections) is strong, though surgical retina chances are reportedly slimmer compared to anterior segment volume.
- Work Culture: * Intensity: The schedule is extremely hectic. Days typically start at 8:00 AM and can extend until 8:00 PM or later.
- Duties: Includes 3–4 night duties per month and mandatory outreach camp participation.
- Peripheral Postings: Fellows undergo rotations at peripheral centers, which are high-volume SICS hubs.
- Academics: Primarily self-driven. While there are scheduled teaching programs, the vast majority of learning happens chair-side and in the OT.
PERSONAL OPINION
Prasad Netralaya is a “Surgical Boot Camp.” It is the ideal choice for an ophthalmologist who wants to graduate with absolute confidence in high-volume Cataract surgery while still holding a sub-specialty fellowship degree. If you are looking for a relaxed academic environment, this is not it—but if you want to master the “bread and butter” of ophthalmology (Cataract) while gaining a specialty niche, it is one of the best private options in Karnataka.
