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| LETTER TO THE EDITOR |
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| Year : 2019 | Volume
: 32
| Issue : 2 | Page : 105 |
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Vitreoretina training in residency: A necessity
Archana Sunil Nikose
Department of Ophthalmology, NKP Salve Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
| Date of Web Publication | 18-Nov-2019 |
Correspondence Address:
Archana Sunil Nikose
Department of Ophthalmology, NKP Salve Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Digdoh Hills, Hingna Road, Nagpur - 440 019, Maharashtra
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/efh.EfH_228_15
How to cite this article:
Nikose AS. Vitreoretina training in residency: A necessity. Educ Health 2019;32:105 |
Dear Editor,
I read with interest the article titled “Inclusion of basic vitreoretina training in Indian ophthalmology residency programmes – need of the hour.”[1] It made me wonder why in India we are lagging so far behind in training residents in retina basics. Unlike cataract surgery programs, retina surgery preparation is missing from most of our medical colleges in India.[2] As correctly pointed out by the author, fluorescein angiography, retinal photocoagulation, and retinopathy of prematurity screening are some of the basic training issues which need to be addressed in the near future.
The main reasons for fewer retina practitioners are an additional 2 years of training after M.S., few centers of retina fellowship, and a four-fold increase in the pay package for recruits to the Middle East. Steps that could be taken to increase the number of vitreoretina practitioners would be compulsory training at the residency level and making basic retina equipment available in medical institutes. Medical colleges can also send their faculty for fellowships so that they can update their departments after coming back from their specialized training. Institutes could also provide monetary incentives and 2 years' extra experience to those retina fellows willing to join as assistant professors.
To summarize, I would like to point out that vitreoretina training will increase the number of retinal surgeons to address the increase in retinal diseases during the last decade, like diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
| References | |  |
| 1. | Dhawan B. Inclusion of basic vitreoretina training in Indian ophthalmology residency programmes – Need of the hour! Educ Health (Abingdon) 2015;28:106.  |
| 2. | Murthy GV, Gupta SK, Bachani D, Sanga L, John N, Tewari HK. Status of speciality training in ophthalmology in India. Indian J Ophthalmol 2005;53:135-42. [ PUBMED] [Full text] |
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