Which Ophthalmology Fellowship is Right for You?

A career as an Ophthalmologist includes diagnosing and treating eye-related issues of patients. Sometimes it may be prescribed medicines and eye drops or glasses, and sometimes it may be performing surgery. After obtaining an education as an Ophthalmologist, one may consider joining a fellowship, but before jumping onto that, let’s first see what factors you should keep in mind before making your decision.  

Current Scenario 

At present, students that have completed their MS(Ophthalmology) /DNB (Ophthalmology) or Diploma in Ophthalmic Medicine and Surgery (DOMS) pursue the job vacancies like Senior associate, Consultant or work under a senior Ophthalmologist as an Associate Consultant at a Hospital or Institute. 
 

The need for a subspecialty in Ophthalmology is arising in Tier-1 cities, there is awareness among patient, and dedicated eye care centers and institutions are coming up every day that focuses solely on eye-related issues.  

Why should you think about a Subspecialty fellowship? 

•  There is an increasing practicing trend of subspecialty in Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities and developed countries. If you are planning to shift to a metro city then you must think seriously about opting for a subspecialty to ensure you can establish your practice easily and get more patients. 

• Another reason for opting for a subspecialty fellowship is that if you are doing generalized practice, you must see close to 50-60 patients a day. It is hard to pay attention to each patient and fulfill their demands. In Subspecialty, you get a chance to pay focused attention to each and every patient that you see. It helps you to get more understanding and depth of the subject of your study.  

• When you pursue a fellowship, you get fraternity recognition and gain an expert status among existing practitioners. 

Ophthalmology Subspecialty  

There are multiple subspecialties available, you need to choose where your interest lies and pick the right choice. The most popular subspecialties are as follows.  

• Paediatric Ophthalmology 
• Retina Surgery 
• Glaucoma Surgery 
• Cataract Surgery 
• Cornea Surgery 
• Squint Surgery 
• Oculoplastic Surgery 
• Ocular Oncology 
• Ocular Trauma 
• Ocular Genetics 
• Neurological Ophthalmology 

Fraternity Recognition  

There are multiple societies available that encourage and recognize the subspecialty in Ophthalmology. In addition to spreading awareness, they also help existing practitioners. These are a few popular societies and institutions.  

• Strabismus and Paediatric Ophthalmological Society of India (SPOSI) 
• American Association for Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPSOS) 
• European Society of Cornea and Ocular Surface Disease Specialists (EuCornea) 
• International Society of Ocular Oncology (ISOO) 
• Intraocular Implant and Refractive Society of India (IIRSI) 
• Ocular Trauma Society of India (OTSI) 
• International Society of Ocular Trauma (ISOT) 
• Scientific association Retinoblastoma and Ocular Oncology (ASROO) 
• United Kingdom Neuro-Ophthalmology Society (UKNOS) 
• International Society for Genetic Eye Diseases and Retinoblastoma 

Recommendations 

It is important that you do enough work in General Ophthalmology before selecting a fellowship so that you can get a good understanding of your area of interest. 

Do not get attracted by a shining opportunity or higher pay, your skill and interest are the right keys when it comes to choosing the subspecialty that is suitable for you. 

FAQs

• How do I apply for a fellowship in ophthalmology?

You can visit Docthub.com and search for fellowships in ophthalmology to find all the available fellowships. You can also check docthub courses to find medical institutions that are offering fellowships in ophthalmology.

• Are ophthalmologists MBBS doctors?

To pursue M.S. in Opthalmology every doctor has to first their a bachelor in Medicine a.k.a. MBBS. Hence every Ophthalmologist has a background of MBBS and then a Post graduation in Opthalmology.

• Is there a shortage of ophthalmologists in India?

Many rural areas in India lack access to primary healthcare because of the country's large population, and the demand for Ophthalmologists remains higher due to their need.

• What is the salary of an eye specialist in India?

The salary of an eye specialist varies on experience, institution and place however on average an eye specialist earns around ₹1,00,000/- Per month or ₹12,00,000/- Per annum.

• Is ophthalmology a good career in India?

Yes, Ophthalmology is a good career and the demand for eye specialists in India remains high.

• Do ophthalmologists have a good lifestyle?

Yes, Ophthalmologists have a good lifestyle and a very good work-life balance. 

How to pursue 

To find the right college/institute and subspecialties in one place, you can visit Docthub.com and search filter, and apply for suitable fellowships. You can explore all top institutes that are providing fellowships in Ophthalmology by clicking here