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NAME OF THE INSTITUTE
Dr. Agarwal’s Eye Hospital, TTK Road, Alwarpet, Chennai
(The global headquarters and “Center of Excellence” for the Dr. Agarwal’s group, world-renowned for pioneering the Glued IOL and PDEK techniques.)
STIPEND & SELECTION
- Monthly Remuneration: ₹30,000
- Selection Process: Conducted twice a year (April and October). Admission is via a personal interview (no written entrance exam for this specific track).
- Intake: Typically 2–4 fellows per session.
- Financial Policy: No admission fees and no bond money required.
DURATION
12 Months (1 Year)
HONEST REVIEW
- Surgical Hands-on (Cataract):
- The “Supracapsular” Signature: You are taught the specific Agarwal technique—prolapsing the nucleus into the anterior chamber before emulsification.
- Volume: While the official promise is 50 Phacos, fellows on average complete 80+ cases.
- Independence: Fellows are given full cases early on; consultants intervene only when necessary.
- Advanced Training: If you show high proficiency, you may be allotted complex cases (PXF, small pupil, hard cataracts). You also get roughly 3–4 Glued IOL cases, providing hands-on experience with the anterior vitrector.
- Note: SICS volume is significantly lower than Phaco. No training is provided for iris claw lenses or topical phaco.
- Surgical Hands-on (Refractive):
- SMILE Pro: This is a major highlight. Fellows perform roughly 80–90 SMILE Pro procedures, as this is the preferred refractive method at Agarwal’s.
- PRK & LASIK: Expect around 20–30 PRK cases and roughly 15–20 Femto-LASIK cases.
- Clinical Exposure:
- OPD: Fellows sit in the Cornea department but focus strictly on Refractive workups rather than general corneal pathology.
- Lasers: Limited hands-on for YAG procedures (Capsulotomy/PI), as these are primarily managed by DNB residents.
- Work Culture & Duties:
- Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Relatively balanced).
- Duties: Includes monthly rotations for night calls, camp duties, and evening OPD (5–8 PM). Sunday OPD (8 AM – 1 PM) is mandatory without a compensatory off.
- Flexibility: While there are no fixed peripheral postings, fellows must be prepared for short-notice deployments to other Agarwal branches across India in case of emergencies.
- Academics: Primarily self-learning. Formal classes are rare, but there is a growing institutional push toward research and publications.
PERSONAL OPINION
Agarwal’s Chennai is a “Refractive Powerhouse.” It is one of the few 1-year programs in India that offers such a high volume of SMILE Pro hands-on. It is ideal for a surgeon who is already confident in basic SICS and wants to transition into a high-end refractive practice. While the “Supracapsular” phaco technique is unconventional, the sheer volume of advanced laser vision correction and Glued IOL exposure makes this an elite “finishing school” for modern corporate ophthalmology.
