Empowered by Experience: My Sightsavers India Fellowship Journey

My experience at Sightsavers India was nothing short of transformative. From August 2022 to July 2024, I had the privilege of participating in the Sightsavers India Fellowship Program, an enriching journey that spanned two years. This program included a four-month cataract surgery training period followed by 20 months of peripheral posting.

Intensive Training at Dr Shroff Eye Hospital

The first four months, from August to December 2022, were spent at Dr Shroff Eye Hospital in Delhi. Under the guidance of esteemed trainers such as Dr Julie Pegu, Dr Umang Mathur, and Dr Gaurav Shah, I received comprehensive training. The period was incredibly wholesome, providing exposure to wet lab facilities where I practised various surgeries on goats’ eyes, including SICS, phacoemulsification, trabeculectomy, penetrating keratoplasty, and air descemetopexy. The meticulous training ensured I grasped every detail of cataract surgery, significantly enhancing my surgical skills.

In addition to surgical training, I gained valuable clinical exposure in the Cornea, Retina, and Glaucoma departments. This experience honed my patient care skills, making me confident in diagnosing and treating common ophthalmological conditions.

Ground Reality Exposure in Bihar

In January 2023, I participated in the RAAB survey in the Samastipur district of Bihar. Conducting a door-to-door survey of individuals over 50 years old to determine the prevalence of blindness and refractive errors, I gained ground reality exposure. This enriching experience allowed me to interact with people and understand their perspectives on vision and the barriers to accessing eye care services. The excellent accommodation, food, and travel facilities made the experience comfortable and facilitated bonding with fellow participants.

Peripheral Posting at Christian Mission Hospital in Uttar Pradesh

Following the survey, I served for 20 months at Christian Mission Hospital, Kasganj, for my peripheral posting. Operating under the supervision of my mentor, Dr Sunny, I gradually increased the number of patients I operated on, boosting my confidence in performing cataract surgeries. The successful outcomes and patient satisfaction were immensely rewarding. Over nine months, I performed numerous SICS surgeries, followed by three weeks of phacoemulsification training at Dr Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital. Enrolled in Alcon’s Phaco Development Program, we received online classes on phaco dynamics and surgical techniques, complemented by hands-on training enriched by Dr Julie Pegu’s extensive experience.

The supportive learning environment, guided by mentors at Shroff, Alcon PDP program staff, and Sandeep Ji in the wet lab, made my learning curve steep yet smooth. After phaco training, I performed phacoemulsification surgeries first under supervision and then independently at my peripheral centre. Throughout my posting, I received comfortable accommodation, ongoing assistance from Ranu Ma’am from Sightsavers India for any issues faced, and constant guidance from mentors at Shroff Eye Hospital. I also received skill-upgradation training to enhance my cataract surgery complication management skills and to learn about corneal patient clinical and surgical management.

Personal and Professional Growth

These two years were incredibly fruitful in terms of surgical exposure, personal and professional growth, development of interpersonal skills, and acclimatization. I am deeply grateful to Sightsavers India for formulating such a comprehensive program that not only enriches ophthalmologists’ training but also serves the underserved population with free eye care services, enhancing their quality of life.