Share This Article
NAME OF THE INSTITUTE
Sri Sankaradeva Nethralaya (SSDN), Guwahati (Assam)
STIPEND
- Monthly Remuneration: ₹40,000
- Financial Policy: No caution deposit required.
DURATION
24 Months (2 Years)
HONEST REVIEW
- Selection & Intake: Inducts one fellow every six months via a personal interview. The program begins with a one-month institutional orientation.
- Clinical Rotation: From the second month, fellows are assigned to specific consultants for 3-month rotations. This allows for focused learning of different clinical and surgical approaches within the posterior segment.
- Surgical Progression: Hands-on training typically starts by the third month, beginning with surgical steps. Training encompasses a wide range of procedures, including macular surgery, retinal detachment (RD) repair, and internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling steps.
- Surgical Autonomy: While fellows receive consistent “steps” in almost all retinal surgeries throughout the two years, opportunities to perform full, independent cases by the end of the tenure are limited.
- Clinical Exposure: The OPD offers a high volume of diverse retinal pathologies. Fellows gain extensive experience in diagnostic interpretation, retinal lasers, and intravitreal injections. Uveitis cases are also managed within the VR department, providing added sub-specialty exposure.
- Limitations: ROP exposure is minimal due to low case inflow. Ocular oncology cases are limited and usually managed in collaboration with the Oculoplasty department. There is no Phacoemulsification training provided in this track.
- Work Culture: Operating hours are 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM (occasionally extending to 7:00 PM). The department is described as busy but maintaining a “chill,” non-toxic atmosphere.
- Academic & On-Call: Mandatory daily classes at 7:30 AM or 8:00 AM. On-call duties include one night shift per month and two Sundays (one hospital-wide and one at a peripheral center). VR fellows are exempt from outreach camp duties.
PERSONAL OPINION
This fellowship is an excellent choice for a “Medical Retina” foundation and for mastering the complex steps of vitreoretinal surgery. The environment is supportive and academically strong. However, because independent surgical “cutting chances” are fewer than at other high-volume centers, graduates may require a short-term surgical “booster” or a senior residency elsewhere to achieve total surgical independence.
