Molecular biology and biochemistry have been the most rapidly developing areas in the field of medicine in the past 35 years and Ocular biochemistry is growing as a subspecialty in the equivalent pace. Therefore, this area of medicine holds importance for eye care doctors.

This field of medicine includes the metabolism and structures of ocular fluids and tissues and important clinical applications and research in the field. Ph. D in Ocular Biochemistry is a course that is offered only a single government medical colleges in India, whose name is:

• All India Institute of Medical Science

Department of Ocular Biochemistry of All India Institute of Medical Sciences:

The Department of Ocular Biochemistry of AIIMS is working under the Dr. R.P. Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences and this section of the institute is engaged in research activities in genetic, immunological and biochemical aspects of diseases in eye. The centre is engaged in research activities in fields like corneal ulcer, optic neuritis, uveitis, etc… The centre also continues to render clinical lab services, in addition to training and teaching to UG and PG courses and Ph. D course in Ocular Biochemistry as well.

Eligibility for seeking admission to Ph. D in Ocular Biochemistry in AIIMS:

Eligibility requirement of getting into the Ph. D in Ocular Biochemistry is given below:

• For getting into the Ph. D in Ocular Biochemistry course at AIIMS, candidates must have completed their PG degree in related discipline from an institution recognized by the Medical Council of India

• Before getting into the PG course, candidates must have completed their MBBS from a recognized institution with at least 55% of marks

Course Duration for Ph. D in Ocular Biochemistry:

Generally, the utmost duration allowed by AIIMS to students for completing their Ph. D course (to submission thesis) is five years and this period will be calculated from registration date of the candidate for the Ph. D in Ocular Biochemistry course.

Admission Process:

Admission of students to the Ph. D in Ocular Biochemistry course is done in the following stages:

• The first stage of the process of admission to the Ph. D in Ocular Biochemistry is the written test, which will be conducted for 80 marks and time given for completing this test is 90 minutes. The questions for the written test will be based on Ocular Biochemistry and the format of question paper is theory based multiple choice questions and there will also be practical/clinical based short questions. Each correct answer will carry one mark and there will be a deduction of 1/3rd of the mark for each wrong answer. Once a candidate clears this examination he/she will be called for second stage of departmental test

• For getting a call for the second stage of admission (departmental test), candidates must have passed the written test with a minimum of 50% of marks and the number of candidates to be invited for the second stage will be decided on the basis of three times the number of seats advertised by the institute and in this process candidates with highest percentage of marks will be given preference

• Admission to this course will be based on the availability of funds/fellowship from an approved funding agency. A candidate will be finalized for admission only on the basis of production of evidence for availability of funds/grants from the candidate through the department head of Ocular Biochemistry.

AIIMS being one of the best institutions for medical education many candidates wish to take up admission to the Ph. D in Ocular Biochemistry and therefore there is heavy competition among the students for this written test to get into the Ocular Biochemistry Ph. D course.