Master of Surgery in Ophthalmology or MS in Ophthalmology is a 2 year postgraduate degree. The course curriculum of this specialization deals with studies about various surgical procedures, the structure of the eye, diseases of the eye, problems affecting the eye, and their possible remedies. The eligibility criteria for MS Ophthalmology require students to pass their MBBS degree with at least 50% to 55% marks in aggregate. There are many entrance exams that grant students admission to colleges offering MS Ophthalmology courses. Many institutes hold their personal entrance exams. Some of the entrance exams for MS Ophthalmology courses are NEET-PG and INI CET. This is a full-time course and all the coursework is conducted in offline mode.
In India, there are many top-ranked colleges where students can choose to complete their MS in Ophthalmology degree. Some eminent institutes are CMC Vellore, AIIMS Delhi, KMC Mangalore, Kasturba Medical College, etc. The average course fee lies between 1,00,00 to 7,00,000 INR. After completing the course, an individual can explore several career prospects such as Professor, ENT Specialist, Ophthalmologist, etc. after completing their MS Ophthalmology degree. After passing with an MS Ophthalmology degree, candidates can get a salary between INR 4,00,000 to INR 12,00,000 per annum.
MS Ophthalmology Course Highlights:
| Course Name | Master of Surgery in Ophthalmology |
|---|---|
| Course Duration | 2 years |
| Course Level | Post-graduate |
| Course Fee | 50,000 to 15,00,000 INR |
| Examination Pattern | Semester |
| MS Ophthalmology Admission process | Entrance exam, Counseling, Personal Interview, Group Discussions |
| Admission | Through entrance exams conducted by respective colleges |
| Minimum Aggregate Required for MS Ophthalmology | 60% in high secondary level and 50% in MBBS level along with a 1-year internship. |
| Top Colleges for MS in Ophthalmology |
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| Average Salary | 4,00,000 to 12,00,000 INR |
| Designations |
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| Recruiting Organizations | Apollo Super Speciality Hospital, AIIMS, GNRC |
Why Choose MS Ophthalmology?
There are several reasons that make MS Ophthalmology a worthy course to choose from. Some of the reasons why students should opt to pursue this degree are
- It is one of the medical courses that is rapidly gaining popularity among students, both in India and abroad.
- There are ample career options to choose from. Completion of this degree makes a candidate eligible for a variety of job roles. Designations like Ophthalmologists, ENT Specialists, etc. are highly paid off.
- Students who wish to continue their studies after MS in Ophthalmology can pursue fellowships and research grants.
- Aspirants who wish to learn practically while making their foundations strong in the Ophthalmology field can opt for this program as it makes them eligible to perform surgeries also.
- Professionals who wish to give optimal care to patients with their eyesight can choose to become surgeons after MS Ophthalmology.
- Many government and private medical establishments hire individuals who have completed their MS in Ophthalmology degree. These job profiles come with further research options.
Entrance Exams for MS Ophthalmology
Students who wish to take admission to this course need to clear an entrance test. Many colleges in India hold their own admission exam. The major entrance tests held at the national level for MS Ophthalmology are mentioned below:
| Exam | Exam Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| PGIMER | August 4, 2023 | This entrance test is conducted by the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research twice a year. The duration of this test is 3 hours. There is no negative marking for wrong answers and all the questions are multiple-choice based. The syllabus of this exam covers the entire curriculum of the MBBS degree including pre-clinical, para-clinical, and clinical subjects. Students will get 3 hours to complete the test. Various subjects covered are; Pathology, Pharmacology, Applied Physiology, Forensic Medicine, Social and Preventive Medicine, Molecular Biology, Dermatology, Pediatrics, Radiotherapy, ENT, Ophthalmology, Gynecology, etc. |
| INI CET | May 7, 2023 | This entrance test is conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS, New Delhi) for enrolling students into Postgraduate courses. It is conducted twice every year. Students need to sit for this computer-based test from designated examination centers. The duration of this test is 180 minutes |
| NEET PG | March 5, 2023 | This is a computer-based, pan-India entrance test held by the National Board of Examinations (NBE). The exam covers the entire syllabus of the MBBS level. The NEET PG exam is conducted for 3 hours and 30 minutes. The total marks for the test are 200 and the question paper is divided into several sections: match-making, identifying true or false statements, quantitative aptitude, etc. All of these questions are multiple-choice. Students who qualify for this entrance exam can get admission to medical colleges in any part of India on the basis of their personal interview, ranking, and counseling |
MS Ophthalmology Eligibility Criteria
Here are the minimum requirements one must fulfill to gen admission in the MS Ophthalmology course:
- Students who wish to study MS Ophthalmology must start preparing from their high school level i.e. studying physics, chemistry, and biology as their main subjects.
- After completing high school, they have to finish their MBBS degree or any other relevant medical degree at their graduation level.
- Candidates have to graduate with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks.
- Students have to pass the entrance exam for enrolling in MS Ophthalmology.
- Applicants who want to pursue their MS Ophthalmology degree from foreign universities, need to present their IELTS, and TOEFL scores during the time of admission.
Admission Process of MS Ophthalmology
The admission process for an MS Ophthalmology degree is almost the same in every state of India. After graduating with an MBBS degree, students need to submit their application form to the respective universities. They need to pass the entrance exam held by the college. After that, a group discussion session is held. Based on the marks scored in the written exam and group discussion stage, candidates are ranked and allotted seats. During admission, colleges take a round of personal interviews with all the students.
Popular Colleges in India Offering MS Ophthalmology
Since the demand for MS Ophthalmology is rising every year, many new colleges have introduced this course to their curriculum. There are many prominent educational establishments all over India that offer MS Ophthalmology degrees to their students. Some of the popular MS Ophthalmology colleges are mentioned below:
| COLLEGE NAME | ENTRANCE EXAM | COURSE FEE |
|---|---|---|
| Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute | RUGHS | 70,000 to 1,00,000 INR |
| Amrita School of Medicine | NEET-PG | 10,000 to 12,000 INR |
| Gandhi Medical College | NEET-PG | 25,000 to 70,000 INR |
| Baba Farid University of Health Sciences | NEET-PG | 1,00,000 to 1,57,000 INR |
| Dayanand Medical College | NEET-PG | 1,00,000 to 5,50,000 INR |
| Armed Forces Medical College | NEET-PG | 1,50,000 to 3,40,000 INR |
| Institute of Human Behavior and Allied Science | NEET-PG | 25,000 to 80,000 INR |
| Maulana Azad Medical College | NEET-PG | 30,000 to 50,000 INR |
| Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research | NEET-PG | 10,000 to 12,000 INR |
| Bombay Hospital and Institute of Medical Sciences | NEET-PG | 10,000 to 25,000 INR |
| Smt.NHL Municipal Medical College | NEET-PG | 2,80,000 to 5,00,000 INR |
Colleges Abroad Offering MS Ophthalmology
MS Ophthalmology is one of the most sought-after degrees by students in foreign countries. The course fees of the colleges vary depending on the country, faculty, laboratory pieces of equipment, etc. Some of the top colleges in foreign countries that offer MS Ophthalmology degrees are mentioned below:
| College/University | Country |
|---|---|
| University of Manchester | United Kingdom |
| University of Waterloo | Canada |
| University of California | United States of America |
| University of London | United Kingdom |
| University of Adelaide | Australia |
| University of Auckland | New Zealand |
| Cardiff University | United Kingdom |
| Illinois College of Optometry | United States of America |
| University of Bradford | United Kingdom |
| Nova Southeastern University | United States of America |
Course Fee For MS Ophthalmology
The average course fee for an MS Ophthalmology degree in India varies within the range of 50,000 to 15,00,000 INR. It is dependent upon several crucial factors like the strength of the faculty, the location of the college, laboratory equipment, etc. The college fees for government and public institutions are lower than the private ones. The average course fee for government colleges ranges between 50,000 to 2,00,000 INR, whereas, the average course fee for private colleges lies between the range of 1,00,000 to 12,00,000 INR. Applicants who wish to pursue their MS Ophthalmology degree from foreign countries need to pay an average course fee between 14,00,000 to 30,00,000 INR.
Subjects Under MS Ophthalmology
These are the core subjects taught under the MS Ophthalmology degree.
- Biochemistry: This subject deals with the composition and function of various chemicals as well as organic substances within a living organism. Biochemistry is the mixture of two main subjects – biology and chemistry. This combination of two subjects helps us understand the chemical composition and its changes within the physiology of any living thing. Biochemistry is used to learn and conduct research on the hormonal, chemical, and muscle behavior of the body. Several laboratory techniques to detect and understand nature as well as the cause of any disorders are taught under this subject.
- Orbital and Ocular Anatomy: This is one of the vital subjects for all the students of MS Ophthalmology. Under this course, the anatomy of the eye is taught thoroughly for surgical purposes. Orbital Anatomy defines the anatomy of the eyeball socket or the bone cavity that contains the eye. Ocular Anatomy thoroughly explains all the optic nerves and fibers that are present around the eye of the organism.
- Diseases of the Eye: Students are acquainted with all the possible and rare eye diseases and how to effectively deal with them in this subject. They are introduced to all the ongoing searches in this field. This subject also includes all the surgical and non-surgical procedures to diagnose any diseases that affect the eye directly or indirectly.
- Gross Anatomy: Under this topic, medical examination of all the tissues and nerves at the macroscopic level is taught to the students.
- Ophthalmic Optics: The word Ophthalmic means “of or pertaining to the eye”. This is also a very vast subject taught under MS Ophthalmology. This topic teaches students about the science that is used for the improvement of vision or to treat any visual impairment problems. Students are taught about the use of lenses, glasses, and other visual aids. The anatomy of the eye is also explained under this subject.
- Surgical Instruments in Ophthalmology: MS Ophthalmology degree enables a person to become a registered surgeon. Hence this is one of the vital subjects of study in this course. In order to perform surgeries, students need to get well acquainted with all the instruments that are involved during procedures. Candidates learn how to use some vital surgical instruments like minor blades, speculums, hooks and probes, micro scissors, etc.
- Diseases of Adnexa: The anatomy of the Ocular Adnexa, i.e., the region that orbits the upper portion of the eyeball is taught to the students for surgical purposes. The diseases that affect Adnexa and their possible treatments are also defined thoroughly.
- Preventive Ophthalmology: Widely known as Community Ophthalmology or Public Health Ophthalmology, this subject deals with the steps that are involved in maintaining the optimal health of the eye. Students learn how to correctly identify eye disorders and several primary, secondary, as well as tertiary preventive measures. Candidates also get an idea of the steps to care for the eye, how to avoid exposure to several pathogens damaging the eyesight, etc
Career Prospects after MS Ophthalmology
Students who finish their MS Ophthalmology degree become eligible for a number of designations. The salary scale of the professionals depends on factors like; their total work experience, how well they are acquainted with surgical procedures, highest qualification, their contribution in this field, job location, etc. Some of the designations are mentioned below:
| Designation | Job Role | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| ENT Specialist | The registered medical professionals who treat medical problems related to the ear, eye, and throat, are known as ENT specialists. They have permission to work in private and government hospitals as well as open their own clinic. They are also known as Otolaryngologists. | 4,00,000 to 5,00,000 INR |
| Ophthalmologists | They are registered medical professionals who identify and treat the diseases and problems associated with the eye. Professionals/ graduates are eligible to prescribe medication to their patients and can also open their own clinics for practice, with proper legal licenses. | 3,00,000 to 8,50,000 INR |
| Clinical Associate | They look after the overall management of medical institutions like hospitals, nursing homes, and even personal chambers of doctors. Their tasks include assisting the doctors, dealing with patient parties, keeping medical records of patients, arranging meetings and appointments, etc. | 2,55,000 to 8,00,000 INR |
| Surgeon | They perform all the surgeries that involve the eye. All the critical operations like cornea operation, retinal operation, and minor operations like a cataract operation, lens operation, etc. are performed by them. | 5,00,000 to 20,00,000 INR |
| Professor | They deliver lectures, demonstrate surgical and laboratory techniques, and teach students of postgraduate level in several colleges. Professors can also design the evaluation process. | 3,00,000 to 6,00,000 INR |
Top Recruiting Agencies in India
Many agencies in India hire graduates with a degree in MS Ophthalmology. Some of the top agencies which hire these professionals almost every year with good compensation are listed below:
- AIIMS
- Indian Railways
- Columbia Asia
- Sparsh Hospitals
- Vitality Healthcare
- Indo-American Hospital
- Max Healthcare Institute Ltd.
- Apollo Super Speciality Hospital
- Recmasters
- Fortis Hospital
- StaffPointe Recruiter
- ArtemisEnterprise Medical Service
- Onyx M.D
- Narayana Hrudayalaya Health City
Skills Required for MS Ophthalmology
There are many skill sets that make an individual stand out from the rest of the group. The most desirable skills for a person pursuing an MS Ophthalmology degree are:
- Should have great interest in helping others compassionately
- An eye for every minute detail is a crucial trait for surgeons
- Possessing a team spirit is of paramount importance. While performing any major surgery, doctors need to work closely with a huge medical team and for that coordination is important.
- An in-depth knowledge of the subject is ideal.
- He/she should have a clear knowledge of the basic concepts of all topics.
- Sometimes, whenever needed, the person should be able to conduct training sessions and demonstrate various laboratory, and surgical techniques to their peers.
- It is a plus point if a person with MS Ophthalmology is interested in conducting research and contributing towards the development of this field.