The Medical retina and Uvea fellowship programme at Vittala International The Phaco and refractive surgery fellowship program at Prabha eye clinic/ Vittala International Institute of Ophthalmology is of 18 months duration. The fellowship program aims to provide adequate exposure to all the aspects of cataract and refractive surgeries.

At the end of the fellowship, the trainee should be competent to plan and operate cataracts by phacoemulsifiaction, and Femto assisted Phaco. Be proficient in planning and performing LASIK, EpiLASIK.ICL

Cornea , community Ophthalmology and Refractive surgery -

In the rotation with respective consultants, whenever the fellow is on duty in either of the hospitals, those days/ timings, they are to be relieved from duties with the consultant.
In the final 3 months- Independent OPD at VIIO/ PECRC with supervised surgical opportunity (only at VIIO) .

Ophthalmology competencies to be gained at the end of the fellowship:

Refraction:

1. Perform advanced refraction techniques (eg, astigmatism, complex refractions, asymmetric accommodative add).
2. Perform objective and subjective refraction techniques for routine and complex refractive errors, including astigmatism, irregular astigmatism (eg, keratoconus, keratectasia, post-corneal graft), and postoperative refractive error.
3. Measure the accommodative power. 4. Demonstrate the measurement of interpupillary distance (IPD).
5. Demonstrate the prescribing of multifocal lenses.
6. Demonstrate the prescribing of contact lenses.
7. Use of IOL calculation algorithms in various scenarios. Toric IOL planning

Practical:

1. Use of corneal pachymetry.
2. Use of specular microscopy.
3. Use of Lenstar for biometry
4. Use of topographic / elevation corneal evaluation (ie, Pentacam/ topography)
5. Use of verion system for refractive planning for cataract surgery

Cornea and refractive:

Adequate exposure to corneal examination techniques including topography/ specular microscopy/ donor eye evaluation / stains and assessment of tear film.

Assist in planning for refractive corneal surgeries including LASIK and Femto LASIK, EpiLASIK, PRK and observe the same.
Assist in phakic IOL surgery
Principles of management including appropriate use of steroids and immunosuppressants

Research Goals:

The fellow is expected to mandatorily get involved in one / two research projects in the duration of fellowship and present at least one paper, and one poster in a national/ state conference. Attempts towards publishing the research project in a peer reviewed paper should also be made.

Teaching responsibility:

The fellow has to mandatorily commit one hour per week for teaching of optometry residents, and 1 hour per week for DNB residents as part of the teaching programme. As and when assigned , he / she should also be involved in teaching other staff of the hospital for training purposes.

Outside postings/ screening camps:

The fellow has to participate in the screening and opd activities of the hospital held outside the hospital, when assigned as per roster. The fellow also has to take part in the rural outreach activities of VIIO, as posted. Eye donation/ eye calls: when on duty the fellow is expected to attend to eye donation calls and collect donor eyes, and coordinate with the eye bank in charge after the eye call.