Goals and Objectives:

1. To give scientific and logical training to help trainees diagnose and treat intraocular inflammations, retinal vasculitis and scleritis

2. To provide proper exposure to all kind of common and rare uveitis which will help them in their future practice.

3. To make them able to manage all kinds of uveitis conditions independently and confidently.

Duration & commencement of program: 18 Months

Program commences in January and July every year

Minimum qualifications:: MS / DO / DNB in Ophthalmology

Age Limit: Upto 40 years

Application procedure: Same as for other fellowship programs

Requirements:

1. Interest in Uveitis/Immunology
2. Capability to do indirect ophthalmoscopy
3. Willingness to participate in research activities/ projects

Selection procedure:

Through interview in UVEA specialty, after qualifying in the written examination which is common for all the anterior segment fellowship programs

Clinical exposure:

In initial months, fellows will be given rotational postings in Glaucoma, Medical Retina and Diagnostics. This will give them adequate exposure in these subspecialties to help them in managing common and related conditions. A thorough exposure in anterior, intermediate and posterior, pan uveitis, scleritis and retinal vasculitis will be given in subsequent months of training. In the last six months fellows will work as senior resident and manage uveitic cases independently.

They will also gain exposure to ocular pathology in pathology lab during their fellowship.

Surgical exposure:

Fellows will be given sufficient opportunities for minor invasive procedures like posterior sub tenon injections, anterior chamber tap and intra vitreal injections.

They will get enough chance to learn cataract surgery. They will be properly trained by experts to perform cataract operation (Extra capsular, small incision, Phaco emulsification) independently.

Fellows will be given opportunity to observe and give proper pre and post operative treatment for complicated cataracts under expert supervision of consultants.

They will also get chance to operate such cases.

Research possibilities:

Fellows will get chance to work on various clinical and basic science projects under senior consultants. They will get enough guidelines and opportunities to work for publications in various journals.

Suggested reading:

1. Atlas of Uveitis and Scleritis by Ganesh SK, Agarwal M, George AE, Dr. Biswas J, Jaypee Medical Publishers, 1st Edition, 2003.

2. Uveitis: An Update, J Biswas, Parthopratim DM, Springer, 2015.

3. Basic and clinical science course: Intraocular inflammation and uveitis-American Academy of ophthalmology 2020-2021.

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)

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.
• 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.
• Hands on experience in performing cataract surgeries during their first year of fellowship program only.
• 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 counseling
• 6 months of senior residency (3 months during 1st year & 3 months during 2nd year) with independent OPD posting, Uvea emergencies, laser and ultrasound postings.