PGD in Ophthalmology Course, Eligibility, Syllabus, Career, Top Institutes, Fees 2023

Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in Ophthalmology is a two-year program for medical students. Ophthalmology is the study of medical conditions related to the eyes. The Candidate must be a Graduate in Medicine/M.B.B.S. or equivalent from a recognized university/college/institute along with a one-year mandatory internship.

Admission to PGD in Ophthalmology is based on merit and entrance exam. NEET is the primary entrance accepted by the renowned PGD in Ophthalmology colleges. PGD in Ophthalmology program is semester and term-end exam based. This course's tuition fees range from INR 10,000 TO INR 15,00,000 for two years.

PGD in Ophthalmology covers physiology, optics, genetics, ocular anatomy, pathology, and clinical and service aspects of Ophthalmology.

The PGD in Ophthalmology Course is one of the most Medical Diploma Courses in India with healthcare professionals and primary care physicians like Optometrists, Orthopedist, Nurses.

Candidates get career options after completion of this course. The average starting salary ranges between INR 3,500,00 to INR 15,00,000 depending on the skills and expertise.

Table of Contents

PGD in Ophthalmology: Course Highlights
PGD in Ophthalmology: What is it About?
Why Study?
Admission Process
4.1 Eligibility Criteria
4.2 Top Entrance Exams
4.3 How to Get Admission in Top College
Syllabus
Top Colleges in India
6.1 College Comparison
Courses Comparison
Jobs and Career Options
Future Scope
FAQs

PGD in Ophthalmology: Course Highlights

Course Level	Post Graduate Diploma
Full-Form	Post Graduate Diploma in Ophthalmology
Duration	2 Years
Examination Type	Semester and Annual Exam Based.
Eligibility	The candidates must have a Bachelors in Medicine/M.B.B.S or equivalent degree from an Institute recognized by MCI(Medical Council of India), along with a mandatory one-year internship.
Admission Process	National and University Level Entrance exam based.
Course Fees	INR 10,000 - 15,00,000
Average Starting Salary	INR 3,50,000 - 15,00,000
Job Positions	Ophthalmologist, Sales Executive, Assistant Professor, OT Technician, Key Account Manager, Consultant Ophthalmology, Area Sales Manager.
Top Recruiting Areas	Medical Colleges and Universities’, Defense Services, NGOs, Government Hospitals, Private Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Pharmaceutical Companies, Medical Content Writing, Testing Labs.

Admission Process

PGD in Ophthalmology: What is it About?

The PGD Ophthalmology is a two-year post-graduate program for graduates in the medical field. This program is based on semester and annual examinations.

The PGD in Ophthalmology builds on medical and surgical concepts learned in anatomy, physiology, and ophthalmic diseases during the graduate medical degrees. Ophthalmology study aims to avert blindness, confirm ocular health, and rehabilitate patients with vision-related issues.
The program focuses on the study of ocular anatomy, physiology, optics, pharmacology, genetics, pathology, microbiology, practical ophthalmic science, including refraction. The program also provides a deep understanding of recent advancements like investigative therapeutic procedures.
The post-graduate program equips students with knowledge provided via clinical and academic work and promotes a self-study approach.

Why Study PGD in Ophthalmology?

The PG Diploma course is designed to teach students the expertise in both clinical as well as the service aspect of Ophthalmology. This course makes the students confident and adept to handle their patients better.
Candidates’ can find jobs in both government owned state hospitals and central hospitals.
Candidates can do research work with prestigious organizations such as ICMR (Indian Council for Medical Research)
There are a lot of employment opportunities for a diploma holder in Ophthalmology like NGOs, private hospitals and clinics, missionary hospitals, charitable hospitals, railway hospitals, and defense hospitals.
Candidates can also work in private sectors such as nursing homes, private hospitals, and clinics.
Candidates can make a career in the research or teaching area after completing the PGD course.
Lastly, Medicine is considered one of the most honorable fields where the professionals earn not just money but personal satisfaction from helping other human beings and society.

Who Should Study PGD in Ophthalmology?

Healthcare professionals/students looking to make a career in the field of eye care and treatment are the perfect candidate for PGD in Ophthalmology.
Candidates should have the knowledge and zeal to deep dive into medical topics related to Pre-Clinical, Para-Clinical, Clinical, and Surgical fields.
Candidates with good communication and interpersonal skills have a great chance to excel in this course. Doctors need to behave friendly and respectably to their patients.
Candidates must have a positive outlook towards life as they need to encourage patients during the treatment of severe diseases.
Candidates must be able to formulate topical therapies such as cream, lotion, and ointment, etc.
Candidates should be hardworking and self-motivated since the job requires a great deal of concentration and precision while dealing with lengthy procedures and surgeries.

Medical graduate candidates need to go through the selection criteria of the university/institute of their choice. The most common admission process is based on both the entrance exam and students' merit.

The popular entrance exams are National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET-PG), AMU Entrance Exam, Bangalore University Entrance Exam, AIIMS PG Entrance Exam, PGIMER, etc.
Candidates need to apply and appear in national level entrance exams (like NEET PG) or common entrance exams conducted by various medical colleges.
Entrance exams check the candidate's proficiency level in terms of pre-clinical, para-clinical, medicine, and surgical concepts, reasoning, comprehension, and logical thinking.
Candidates get an option to apply for their desired college/institute based on their entrance exams score.
Based on the entrance exam score, candidates are invited to appear for further counseling and personal interviews
Finally, based on the overall performance in entrance exams and personal interviews, colleges offer admission to the selected candidates.

Eligibility Criteria

PGD in Ophthalmology: Eligibility Criteria

The candidates must have completed an MBBS degree or equivalent from a recognized Institute.
The candidates must have completed a mandatory one-year internship.
The candidate should be registered as MBBS with the Medical Council of India or State Medical Councils.
Candidates who have an MBBS provisional certificate or are likely to complete their internship before the entrance exam dates may also apply. (Admissions are subject to their completing the qualifying exams/internships)

Entrance Exams

PGD in Ophthalmology: Entrance Exams

Admissions to PGD Ophthalmology is primarily based on entrance exams. Multiple national and college-level entrance exams are held every year. Minimum eligibility is a Bachelors’ degree in medicine or equivalent recognized by MCI, along with a one-year mandatory internship. Here are a few important entrance exams for PGD Ophthalmology

Exam	Exam Date
NEET PG	Check here
AIIMS PG	Check here
PGIMER/INICET	Check here

Read More: PG Medical Entrance Exams in India

PGD in Ophthalmology: How to get Admission in Good College?

Below are key steps involving admission to M. Tech. in Electronics and Communication course.

Candidates should check the placement/internship policy for respective colleges/universities before applying.
The candidate should check specific eligibility requirements set aside by different exam governing bodies and follow the guidelines.
The Candidate needs to have a clear understanding of topics covered during Medical qualifying exams. Most entrance exams focus on topics such as Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pathology, Microbiology, Social and Preventive Medicine, Surgery, ENT etc.
Make sure to attempt the practice dummy test. NEET PG offers online dummy test for candidates who have applied for NEET.
If applying based on a provisional certificate and or, pending internship. Candidate should ensure that he/she has successfully completed the internship based on MCI guidelines.
The Candidate should prepare well for personal interview and counselling rounds.

Read More – Syllabus for NEET PG Entrance Exam

PGD in Ophthalmology: Course Syllabus

PGD Ophthalmology is a 2-year program. Students are assessed via semester and annual term end examinations. Below is a semester wise syllabus for the PGD Ophthalmology course. Please note that course names and subject names may vary according to colleges.

Subjects of Study	Areas Covered
Anatomy and Physiology	Anatomy of the eye and ocular adnexa, Embryology of the eye and adnexa, The visual pathways, Anatomy and Physiology of motor mechanism, Physiology of vision, colour vision, accommodation, Binocular vision and its development, Maintenance of intraocular pressure, The Neurology of vision, Physiology of aqueous humour and its circulation and maintenance of intraocular Pressure, Maintenance of corneal transparency, Tear circulation, Blood-aqueous barrier.
Pathology and Microbiology	Pathology of ocular and adnexal lesions - Inflammatory, neoplastic, lens specification, etc. Microbiology of common organisms affecting the eye, Virus – Herpes Zoster, Simplex, adenovirus, trachoma etc. Parasites, protozoa and fungi causing ocular lesion
Biochemistry	Vitamin A and its metabolism, Glucose metabolism, Aqueous composition, Biochemical aspects of cataract (Senile and diabetic), Thyroid function tests Tear film and its composition.
Pharmacology	Pharmacology of drugs used in Ophthalmology, Autonomic drugs, Use of antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents, Anti-inflammatory agent, Anti-viral and antifungals, Local anesthetics, Dyes used in ophthalmology, Tear Substitutes, Drugs used to reduce intraocular pressure, Ocular penetration of systemically administered drugs and topical agents. Anti-mitotic agents and immunosuppressive
Optics	Elementary Physiological optics, Optics of radioscopy and other dark room procedures and ophthalmic types of equipment.
Clinical Ophthalmology including	Clinical Ophthalmology methodologies including Refraction
Modern Enhancements	Recent advances including investigative therapeutic procedure, Community Ophthalmology including national programme, rehabilitation of blind.

PGD in Ophthalmology: Course Books

Name of the Book	Author
Paediatric Optometry	Jerome Rosner
Vision development	ILG & Bullis
Introduction to Visual Optics	A.R. Elington & H.J. Frank
Clinical Optics- 2nd ed (1991)	Paul Scherz & Simon Monk
Management of Special Population	Dominique Maino
Optics & Refraction	L.P. Agarwal
Clinical Optics	Borrish
The Art & Practice of Low Vision	Freeman & Jose, Butterwort Pub
Understanding Low Vision	AFB Publication
Low Vision	Fayea E.E.

Job Profiles

PGD in Ophthalmology: Top Colleges

Institute Name	Average Annual Fees
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi	INR 1,500
Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh	INR 3,470
Christian Medical College, Vellore	INR 7,000
Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Bengaluru	INR 35,220
Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Kochi	Rs. 15,53,000
Kasturba Medical College, Manipal	INR 14,00,000
King George’s Medical University, Lucknow	INR 43,200
Madras Medical College and Government General Hospital, Chennai	Not Available
Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh	INR 47,570
Christian Medical College, Ludhiana	INR 3,90,000
JSS Medical College, Mysore	INR 12,62,500

PGD in Ophthalmology: Colleges Comparison

College Name	Christian Medical College	JSS Medical College
Overview	Situated in Vellore,Tamilnadu CMC is one of the top colleges in providing this course and has been ranked 3 by NIRF in 2020.	JSS Medical college based in Mysore is one of the top most colleges in India which provides quite good salary packages and has been ranked 20 by NIRF in 2020.
Location	Vellore	Ludhiana
NIRF Ranking	3	20
Average Fee	INR 7,000	INR 12,62,500
Average Package	5-6 LPA	6.5 LPA
Job Profiles	Ophthalmologist, Sales Executive, Assistant Professor, OT Technician, Key Account Manager	Ophthalmologist, Consultant Ophthalmology, Area Sales Manager.

PGD Ophthalmology V/s Diploma in Optometry Technology: Which is Better?

Parameters	PGD in Ophthalmology	Diploma in Optometry
Full Name	Post Graduate Diploma in Ophthalmology	Diploma in Optometry Technology
Overview	Covers pre-clinical, para-clinical, surgical, pediatrics and other major aspects of eye disorders and their treatment. An ophthalmology expert may assist or perform actual treatment.	Different concepts of eye-health, diseases, diagnosis and treatment of the human eye. An Optometrist may make recommendations for treatment however can not perform surgery.
Course Type	Post Graduate Diploma	Undergraduate Diploma
Eligibility	Bachelor’s Degree (MBBS or equivalent)	10+2
Duration	2 years	3 years
Course Fees	INR 10,000 - 15,00,000	INR 10,000- 5,00,000
Jobs Profiles	Ophthalmologist, Sales Executive, Assistant Professor, OT Technician, Key Account Manager, Consultant Ophthalmology, Area Sales Manager.	Optometrist Assistant, Lens Consultant, Optometry Technician, Asst. Nutrition Officer/Data Assistant
Average Salary	INR 3,00,000 - INR 15,00,000	INR 2,50,000 - 15,00,000

PGD Ophthalmology: Job Profiles

Here are the most common job profiles and the average starting median salary per annum.

Job Profile	Job Description	Average Salary
Ophthalmologist	Ophthalmologists diagnoses and treats eye-related diseases, like cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetes-related vision issues. Performs various types of eye related surgeries.	INR 10,00,000
Assistant Professor	Teaches ophthalmology students and helps them in their advanced research related to ophthalmic diseases, academia, and innovations.	INR 9,00,000
OT Technician	Responsible for transporting patients, preparing the operating room for surgery, set-up and check surgical equipment, and providing vital technical assistance to surgeons.	INR 4,50,000
Consultant Ophthalmology	Exhibits deep knowledge of ophthalmic treatment and assists or performs critical surgical operations.	INR 13,50,000
Area Sales Manager	An area sales manager is in charge of marketing and sales of medical products and surgical equipment. Interacts with various hospital authorities and responsible for the overall growth of the business	INR 8,00,000

Post Graduate Diploma Ophthalmology: Salary Trends

Below graph shows average salary trends for common job profiles post PGD in Ophthalmology

Future Scope

PGD in Ophthalmology: Future Scope

With the ever-growing population, the need for eye specialists also keeps growing.

The candidates who have completed PGD in Ophthalmology can work in both government and private sectors set up in the medical field.
There are plenty of opportunities in NGOs, Private Clinics, Medical Writing Industry, Pharma Industry, Defense Hospitals, Railway Hospitals, Medical Colleges, etc.
Eye Specialists receive very good remuneration along with respect from society. The scope of earning grows exponentially based on expertise and experience. Candidates can further study and complete their specific specialization related to Ophthalmic treatment.
Candidates may also work in the research and development of new medicines/techniques by working under reputed government agencies like ICMR.

Top recruiters:

L. V. Prasad Eye Hospital
Sankara Nethralaya Eye Care Hospital
SIMS Healthcare Private Limited
Aravind Eye Hospital
Lotus Eye Hospital and Institute
Fortis Healthcare Ltd
All India Institute of Medical Sciences
Max Healthcare, Metro Hospital
Shroff Eye and Lasik Centre

FAQs

PGD in Ophthalmology: FAQs

Ques. What can I do after my diploma in ophthalmology?

Ans. The best option is to pursue a fellowship from any prestigious eye hospital/institute. Diploma candidates can get a comprehensive fellowship that includes surgical exposure and learning the best way to diagnose patients.

Que. What is a PGD Ophthalmology?

Ans. Post Graduate Diploma in Ophthalmology is a two-year diploma course that trains and qualifies professionals to help ophthalmologists diagnose and treat patients.

Ques. How do I become an ophthalmologist in India?

Ans. You should complete an MBBS degree first and then go for post-graduation in Ophthalmology. The degrees are Doctor of Medicine, Master of Surgery, and Diploma in Ophthalmology.

Que, Is NEET required for Optometry?

Ans. No, for optometry, you need not give or qualify NEET. Students who wish to do a degree or Diploma courses in ophthalmic technology should clear 10+2 or equivalent examination, with a minimum of 50% marks in physics, chemistry, and biology. However, if you want to do a PG Diploma in Ophthalmology, NEET is required for most colleges.

Que. Which college is good for a PG Diploma in Ophthalmology?

Ans. Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Armed Forces Medical College are few reputed colleges offering PG Diploma Ophthalmology.

Que. What is the eligibility for PGD in Ophthalmology?

Ans. Candidates must have completed an MBBS degree or provisional MBBS pass certificate, which MCI recognizes. The candidate should also possess a permanent/ provisional registration certificate of MBBS qualification issued by the Medical Council of India or State Medical Council.