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NAME OF THE INSTITUTE
Comtrust Charitable Trust Eye Hospital, Kozhikode (Calicut), Kerala
(Established in 1999; a prominent charitable institute known for high-volume surgery and social service in North Kerala.)
STIPEND
- Year 1: ₹50,000
- Year 2: ₹55,000
- Financial Policy: One of the more stable stipends in the region with no bond and no caution deposit requirements, which is a significant advantage for candidates.
DURATION
24 Months (2 Years)
HONEST REVIEW
- Mentorship: Training is overseen by dedicated senior faculty. The department is headed by Dr. Prakash V. S. (Medical Director & HOD), a highly experienced Vitreo-Retinal and Uveitis specialist trained at Sankara Nethralaya.
- Surgical Progression:
- Phase 1: Fellows start with surgical “steps” to build microscopic dexterity.
- Mid-Fellowship: By the end of the first year, fellows are expected to perform independent minor surgeries like Silicone Oil Removal (SOR) and vitreous hemorrhage washouts.
- Final Phase: The goal is to graduate as an independent surgeon for major cases including Retinal Detachment (RD) repair and Macular Hole surgeries.
- Clinical & Diagnostic Volume:
- Lasers & Injections: Exceptional hands-on volume. You can expect to perform 400–500+ retinal lasers and intravitreal injections.
- Clinical Breadth: As a charitable hub, you will encounter almost every textbook retinal pathology in a high-volume OPD setting.
- Specialty Exposure:
- ROP: Exposure is rated as “good” for screening and diagnosis; however, surgical hands-on is typically limited to ROP lasers rather than complex pediatric vitrectomies.
- Cataract: There is no Phacoemulsification or SICS training included in this track.
- Work Culture & Duties:
- Hours: 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM.
- Duties: On-call duties occur on alternate days and Sundays. There are no peripheral postings, meaning all training remains centralized at the main Calicut hospital.
- Environment: Described as professional and “not hectic or toxic,” providing a balanced learning atmosphere.
- Academics: Structured around one specialty class per week, though much of the learning is clinical and case-based.
PERSONAL OPINION
Comtrust Kozhikode is a “Surgical Independence” center. It is an ideal program for someone who wants to skip the “corporate polish” and dive straight into high-volume, hands-on retinal surgery. The lack of a bond or deposit makes it one of the most fellow-friendly contracts in India. While you won’t get cataract training, the sheer volume of 500+ lasers and independent RD surgeries by the end of year two puts you in the elite bracket of surgical retina specialists.
