Sightsavers India opens 2025 fellowship applications for ophthalmology; PG, diploma holders eligible

Sightsavers India, an organisation for preventing avoidable blindness and promoting equal opportunities for people with disabilities, has opened applications for its 2025 India fellowship programme. The programme will offer clinical training, community engagement experience, participation in eye health surveys, and exposure to rural and peri-urban areas to train ophthalmologists.

The India fellowship programme 2025 will be a 24-month long training programme, designed for postgraduates or diploma holders in ophthalmology: Master of Surgery (MS), Diploma in Ophthalmology (DO), Diplomate of National Board (DNB). Candidates should have “sound” knowledge of clinical ophthalmology, an official statement said.

The statement listed desired attributes as “high learning orientation, adaptability, professional ethics and emotional resilience”.

The Sightsavers ophthalmology fellowship will begin from September 2025 onwards. The last date to apply is August 15. Interested candidates can apply on the website: indiafellowshipprogram.sightsaversindia.org.

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Ophthalmology in India

According to a recent study titled “Democratising Access to World-Class Eye Care”, India has 25,000 ophthalmologists. Which gives one ophthalmologist to one million people. Realistically, urban areas have one ophthalmologist for around 10,000 people, while rural areas have one ophthalmologist per 2,50,000 people.

The ophthalmology fellowship aims to lessen this divide with district postings, one-on-one clinical-surgical mentorship, and self-transformation mentoring. Fellows will also receive an “attractive” stipend and residential facility.

“India has made remarkable strides in expanding access to eye care and strengthening human resources remains key to sustaining this progress. Through Sightsavers India fellowship programme , we are proud to nurture young ophthalmologists who are passionate about delivering quality care where it's needed most. We look forward to welcoming the next cohort of fellows—future leaders who will help shape a more inclusive society and contribute to reducing blindness prevalence,” said RN Mohanty, CEO of Sightsavers India.