Fellowship

Shri Bhagwan Mahavir Vitreoretinal Services

Updated on July 2025


"Shri Bhagwan Mahavir Vitreoretinal services" is one of the largest, busiest and best-equipped retina units in South East Asia. It is known in India and neighbouring countries for its world class and state of the art eye care for patients with complicated vitreo-retinal problems. The vitreoretinal department headed by Dr. Muna Bhende currently functions in Chennai and Kolkata with a task force constituting of 18 consultants in Chennai and 6 consultants in Kolkata. On an average 1,34,439 patients with various vitreoretinal disorders are seen in the outpatient services every year and around 11311 vitreoretinal procedures are being performed every year.

The facilities available are:

arrow_right Wide field and Ultra widefield imaging (OPTOS & Retcam), Clarus, Forus including FFA & ICG

arrow_right Fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) - (Heidelberg, Clarus, Optos)

arrow_right Indocyanine green angiography (ICG)

arrow_right Laser photocoagulation (Green, Yellow, Diode, Sub-threshold Micropulse, PASCAL)

arrow_right Transpupillary thermo therapy (TTT)

arrow_right Electroretinogram (ERG), Multifocal ERG, Electrooculogram (EOG), VEP, Multifocal VEP, Sweep VEP

arrow_right Ultrasonography and Ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM)

arrow_right Optical coherence tomography (OCT) (Spectral domain, Swept source)

arrow_right Optical Coherence Tomography angiography (OCTA - Spectral domain, Swept source)

arrow_right Haag Streit Eyesi VR Simulator

Six fully equipped operation theaters are dedicated for vitreo-retinal surgeries in Chennai while there are 4 operation theaters exclusive for vitreo-retinal surgeries in Kolkata. A separate OT for short sterile procedures like examination under anesthesia, laser photocoagulation under GA, ROP lasers, etc., are also available in our Chennai center. A separate Operating Theater is also available for infected cases. A variety of retinal surgeries, both simple and complicated, are performed every day. Apart from patient care, Shri Bhagwan Mahavir Vitreoretinal services is also actively involved in teaching, training and research.

The institute also has access to a variety of Online journals including British Journal of Ophthalmology, Elseiver, Karger, Nature, etc, along with online access to OVID journals and Taylor & Francis Online.

Till date over 896 research articles are published in peer-reviewed National & International journals which are indexed in PubMed.

Prerequisite for application:

The applicant must have completed Post Graduation (DNB/MS/MD) in ophthalmology from a recognized university and must be registered with Medical Council of India. Consideration will be given to the candidates hailing from & going back to underserved areas. Qualified candidates employed elsewhere should produce a NO OBJECTION CERTIFICATE from the previous employer at the time of joining. Candidates with Diploma in Ophthalmology (DO) are not eligible.

Age Limit:Upto 40 years

Session:January & July

Stipend:Rs. *55,000/- (*subject to change)

Selection Process: The selection process involves a Multiple Choice Objective theory examination followed by a personal interview.

Types Of Fellowship

The department offers following fellowship programs…

Medical retina fellowship (Advanced course) 12 months
Medical retina and Uvea combined fellowshi 24 month
Clinical vitreoretina fellowship 24 months
Reseach-cum-Clinical vitreoretina fellowship 30 months
Clinical Vitreoretina fellowship for International candidates 12 months

Medical retina fellowship (Advanced course)

Duration:1 year
Number of trainees: 4 per year (one for Chennai and one for Kolkata every 6 months)

Features:

  • Mastering the skills of using slit lamp biomicroscopy, digital fundus photography which includes use of contact and noncontact fundus lenses.
  • Mastering the skills of using indirect ophthalmoscopy.
  • Diagnosis of various medical and surgical retina conditions under supervision of retina specialist.
  • Interpretation of fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), Indocyanine green angiography (ICG), Optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCTA, ultrasonography (USG) and electrodiagnostic modalities.
  • Hands on experience in performing FFA, ICG, OCT, OCTA, USG and electrodiagnostic modalities.
  • Diagnosis of various ocular tumors and their management.
  • Visiting NICU with retina specialist to screen babies for retinopathy of prematurity.
  • Hands on experience in performing lasers for ROP babies under supervision.
  • Hands on experience in performing laser photocoagulation for various posterior segment diseases.
  • Hands on experience in delivering intravitreal injections for various posterior segment pathologies.
  • Emergency Room posting for a period of 1 month to understand and deal with emergencies involving all ophthalmic sub-specialties
  • Familiarize with the art of prescribing low visual aids.
  • Taking part in research and Presentation in conferences
  • Familiarize with genetic screening and counselling
  • 3 months of senior residency with independent OPD, laser and USG postings.

Medical retina and Uvea combined fellowship

Duration:24 months (1st year Uvea + 2nd year Medical retina)

Number of trainees: 2 per year (one every 6 months)

Goals and Features:

  • Mastering the skills of using slit lamp biomicroscopy,
  • Mastering the skills of using indirect ophthalmoscopy
  • Diagnosis of various medical and surgical retina conditions under supervision of retina specialist.
  • Diagnosis of various ocular tumors and their management.
  • Diagnosis of uveitis and uvea emergencies under supervision of uvea specialist.
  • Interpretation of fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), Indocyanine green angiography (ICG), Optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCTA, ultrasonography (USG) and electrodiagnostic modalities.
  • Hands on experience in performing FFA, ICG, OCT, USG and electrodiagnostic modalities.
  • Visiting NICU with retina specialist to screen babies for retinopathy of prematurity.
  • Hands on experience in performing lasers for ROP babies under supervision,
  • Experience in cataract surgeries once a week during their first year and in the last month month of the fellowship program.
  • Hands on experience in performing laser photocoagulation and delivering intravitreal injections for various posterior segment pathologies.
  • Emergency Room posting for a period of 1 month to understand and deal with emergencies involving all ophthalmic sub-specialties
  • Familiarize with the art of prescribing low visual aids, genetic screening and counseling
  • Total of 5 months of senior residency (2 months of Uvea during 1st year & 3 months’ medical retina during 2nd year) with independent OPD posting, Uvea emergencies, laser and ultrasound postings.
  • Cataract surgeries in the last month of the fellowship program.
  • Taking part in research and presentation in conferences.

Clinical Vitreoretina fellowship

Duration: 2 years

Number of trainees: 8 per year (four every 6 months - out of which two will be trained for half the duration of fellowship in Kolkata and the remaining half in Chennai)

Features:

  • Virtual reality simulators are provided for the fellows to experience the VR surgeries. Simulator for intraocular surgery training during the fellowship offers an immersive simulated environment for training of surgical steps, procedure and complication management. This gives the confidence in surgical abilities before exposing to operation theatre.
  • Mastering the skills of using slit lamp biomicroscopy which includes use of contact and noncontact fundus lenses.
  • Mastering the skills of using indirect ophthalmoscopy
  • Diagnosis of various medical and surgical retina conditions under supervision of retina specialist.
  • Diagnosis of uveitis under supervision of uvea specialist.
  • Interpretation of fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), Indocyanine green angiography (ICG), Optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCTA ultrasonography (USG) and electrodiagnostic modalities.
  • Hands on experience in performing FFA, ICG, OCT, OCTA, USG and electrodiagnostic modalities.
  • Diagnosis of various ocular tumors and their management.
  • Visiting NICU with retina specialist to screen babies for retinopathy of prematurity.
  • Hands on experience in performing lasers for ROP babies under supervision.
  • Hands on experience in performing laser photocoagulation for various posterior segment diseases.
  • Hands on experience in delivering intravitreal injections for various posterior segment pathologies.
  • Hands on experience in performing scleral buckling techniques under the supervision of vitreoretinal surgeons.
  • Hands on experience in performing Pars plana vitrectomies (23G, 25G) under the supervision of vitreoretinal surgeons.
  • Emergency Room posting for a period of 1 month to understand and deal with emergencies involving all ophthalmic sub-specialties
  • Taking part in research activities and presentations in conferences.
  • Familiarize with the art of prescribing low visual aids.
  • Familiarize with genetic screening and counseling.
  • 6 months of senior residency with independent OPD, laser & USG postings.

Reseach-cum- Clinical vitreoretina fellowship

Duration: 2 years and 6 months

Number of trainees: 4 per year (two every 6 months)

Features:

Research 6 months:

  • Dedicated 6 months for exclusive training in research methodologies and statistics.
  • To learn the art of writing research publications.
  • To learn the art of writing research proposal for grant.
  • To work with basic scientist and statistician.
  • To be an active participant in the ongoing studies in SankaraNethralaya.
  • To conduct clinical auditing.
  • Insight into conducting clinical studies.
  • Presentations in conferences.

Clinical 2 Years:

  • Virtual reality simulators are provided for the fellows to experience the VR surgeries. Simulator for intraocular surgery training during the fellowship offers an immersive simulated environment for training of surgical steps, procedure and complication management. This gives the confidence in surgical abilities before exposing to operation theatre.
  • Mastering the skills of using indirect ophthalmoscopy
  • Diagnosis of various medical and surgical retina conditions under supervision of retina specialist.
  • Diagnosis of uveitis under supervision of uvea specialist.
  • Interpretation of fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), Indocyanine green angiography (ICG), Optical coherence tomography (OCT),OCTA, ultrasonography (USG) and electrodiagnostic modalities.
  • Hands on experience in performing FFA, ICG, OCT USG and electrodiagnostic modalities.
  • Diagnosis of various ocular tumors and their management.
  • Visiting NICU with retina specialist to screen babies for retinopathy of prematurity.
  • Hands on experience in performing lasers for ROP babies under supervision.
  • Hands on experience in performing laser photocoagulation for various posterior segment diseases.
  • Hands on experience in delivering intravitreal injections for various posterior segment pathologies.
  • Hands on experience in performing scleral buckling techniques under the supervision of vitreoretinal surgeons.
  • Hands on experience in performing Pars plana vitrectomies (23G, 25G) under the supervision of vitreoretinal surgeons.
  • Emergency Room posting for a period of 1 month to understand and deal with emergencies involving all ophthalmic sub-specialties
  • Familiarize with the art of prescribing low visual aids.
  • Familiarize with genetic screening and counseling.
  • 6 months of senior residency with independent OPD, laser & USG postings.
Fellowships Application Form