FAICO Ophthalmology by AIOS 2026 — The Complete Candidate’s Guide
By OPHTHAMCQ Team · Updated May 2026 · 9 min read
Everything you need to know about the Fellow of All India Collegium of Ophthalmology exam — eligibility, exam pattern, subspecialties, key references, and a proven MCQ strategy to pass in 2026.
Table of Contents
1. What is FAICO? — The credential explained
2. Eligibility criteria for FAICO 2026
3. Exam format — Written, OSCE & Viva
4. All FAICO subspecialties
5. Key references you must cover
6. How to prepare — 5 proven strategies
7. The MCQ resource built for FAICO
1. What is FAICO? — The Credential Explained
The Fellow of All India Collegium of Ophthalmology (FAICO) is one of the most respected fellowship credentials in Indian ophthalmology. It is awarded by the All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS) — India’s premier scientific body for eye care, established in 1930 — to ophthalmologists who demonstrate subspecialty expertise through a structured examination process.
Unlike a simple certification test, FAICO is a rigorous, multi-stage evaluation across both theoretical knowledge and clinical application. Passing FAICO signals to the broader community — patients, hospitals, and peers — that you have achieved a recognised subspecialty standard in your chosen field.
💡 Why FAICO matters in 2026: As subspecialty eye care expands across India and referral patterns become more structured, FAICO is increasingly required or strongly preferred for senior positions at tertiary eye hospitals, academic institutions, and large group practices.
You can apply for one subspecialty per attempt. A candidate may earn FAICO in a maximum of two subspecialties over their career.
2. Eligibility Criteria for FAICO 2026
All of the following must be met before you apply:
✅ 1. Active AIOS Membership
You must be a current member of the All India Ophthalmological Society. Membership applications are handled at aios.org.
✅ 2. Recognised Postgraduate Qualification
A PG qualification in ophthalmology recognised by the Government of India — DO, DNB, MD, MS, or an equivalent international qualification.
✅ 3. Minimum 2 Years Post-PG Experience
At least two years of experience after completing your PG degree (including fellowship or senior residency time). The cut-off date is 30 September 2026.
✅ 4. Subspecialty Exposure — Any One of These:
• Completed a recognised subspecialty fellowship (or at least 18 months of fellowship training), OR
• Completed senior residency (or at least 18 months of it), OR
• At least 3 years of practical subspecialty work experience
📌 One important rule: at any given time you may apply for only one subspecialty. Over your career you can accumulate FAICO in two different subspecialties. Plan accordingly if you are cross-trained.
3. Exam Format — Written Test, OSCE & Viva
FAICO is conducted in two sequential stages. Both must be cleared to receive the fellowship.
Stage 1 — Online Written Theory Test
A one-hour computer-based exam comprising 60 MCQs with four options (one correct response). The pass mark is 70% — meaning you need to correctly answer at least 42 out of 60 questions.
The exam is conducted online at designated test centres:
New Delhi · Mumbai · Kolkata · Bangalore · Chennai · Hyderabad
🏷 60 MCQs · 60 minutes · Pass mark = 70%
Stage 2 — OSCE & Viva Voce
After clearing the written stage, candidates proceed to the clinical examination — an OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) combined with a structured Viva. These are held at different centres for different subspecialties across India.
In November 2025, AIOS conducted:
• Retina & Vitreous OSCE at LVPEI GMR Varalakshmi Campus, Visakhapatnam — with external faculty from Aravind Eye Care and Sankara Eye Foundation
• Cornea & Anterior Segment OSCE at LVPEI Kallam Anji Reddy Campus, Hyderabad — with external faculty from AIIMS Bhopal, Sankara Nethralaya, and Swarup Eye Centre
🏷 Clinical OSCE + Viva · Subspecialty-specific centres
📌 Exam fee: ₹10,000 (Demand Draft in favour of “All India Ophthalmological Society”, payable at Delhi). Cancellations and refunds are allowed up to 30 days before the exam date.
4. All FAICO Subspecialties
FAICO spans the full breadth of modern ophthalmology. The available subspecialty tracks are:
|Subspecialty |Focus Areas |
|-----------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
|🔴 Retina & Vitreous |Medical & surgical retina, VR surgery, RD, AMD, DR |
|🔵 Cornea & Anterior Segment |Corneal disease, keratoplasty, refractive surgery |
|🟢 Glaucoma |Diagnosis, medical & surgical management, imaging |
|🟠 Cataract & IOL |Phaco, complex cataract, IOL selection & calculation|
|🟣 Oculoplasty & Orbit |Lids, lacrimal, orbit, oculomotor reconstruction |
|🟡 Paediatric Ophthalmology & Squint|ROP, amblyopia, strabismus, paediatric cataract |
|⚪ Uvea & Ocular Oncology |Uveitis, intraocular tumours, oncology protocols |
|🔷 Neuro-Ophthalmology |Optic nerve, visual pathways, motility disorders |
Each subspecialty has its own recommended reading, MCQ pattern, and OSCE & Viva centres. While the written stage shares a common structure, the clinical examination is fully tailored to your chosen subspecialty.
5. Key References You Must Cover
FAICO MCQs are drawn from a well-defined set of standard textbooks. Knowing your sources is a decisive advantage. The OPHTHAMCQ FAICO MCQ bank is built directly from:
📘 AAO BCSC (Basic and Clinical Science Course)
The American Academy of Ophthalmology’s 13-volume series — the international gold standard. Focus on the volumes relevant to your subspecialty.
📗 Kanski’s Clinical Ophthalmology
The most-read clinical ophthalmology textbook in India and internationally. Essential for clinical picture-based and case-based MCQs.
📙 Shields’ Textbook of Glaucoma
The definitive reference for glaucoma subspecialty candidates. Also essential for glaucoma MCQs in the general bank.
📕 Ryan’s Retina
The authoritative multi-volume text for retina subspecialists. High-yield for vitreo-retinal and medical retina MCQs.
📓 Parsons’ Diseases of the Eye
A staple for Indian PG and fellowship candidates. Anatomy, physiology, optics, and clinical medicine — distilled for exam-oriented learning.
📒 Khurana’s Comprehensive Ophthalmology
The most widely used Indian-authored ophthalmology textbook for PG and fellowship candidates. Well-aligned with the AIOS syllabus.
💡 The problem most candidates face: These books together run to thousands of pages. The real skill in FAICO preparation is knowing which parts matter for MCQs — not reading everything cover to cover. That is exactly the gap OPHTHAMCQ’s focused MCQ bank bridges.
6. How to Prepare — 5 Proven Strategies
1. Start with previous year question patterns, not textbooks.
Before opening a single book, understand what the exam actually tests. Recall-based questions from past FAICO sittings reveal topic weightage, question depth, and clinical focus areas you would never identify from index-reading alone.
2. Separate your subspecialty revision from general ophthalmology revision.
FAICO Stage 1 covers general ophthalmology MCQs with a subspecialty lens. Your OSCE & Viva (Stage 2) is fully subspecialty-specific. Budget your time accordingly — do not spend all preparation time only on your subspecialty.
3. Practise decision-making, not just recall.
FAICO MCQs are increasingly clinical and case-based. A question will give you a patient scenario, imaging findings, or a clinical dilemma — then ask for the correct next step, diagnosis, or management. Practise applying knowledge, not just memorising facts.
4. Target the 70% pass mark intelligently.
You need 42 out of 60 right. That means you can tactically skip uncertain questions and consolidate on high-confidence topics. Use high-yield MCQ practice to identify your strongest topics and protect those marks first.
5. Learn from candidates who have already sat the exam.
OPHTHAMCQ’s MCQ bank is refined with inputs from real FAICO exam-takers. The exam recall pattern — which concepts examiners return to repeatedly — is something no textbook tells you. Build a small study group with candidates preparing for the same subspecialty.
7. The MCQ Resource Built for FAICO
OPHTHAMCQ’s FAICO MCQ bank exists because no single resource on the market was designed specifically for this exam. General ophthalmology MCQ banks are built for DNB or MS exams — they are not calibrated to the FAICO exam pattern, AIOS syllabus, or the subspecialty depth Stage 1 demands.
What you get with the OPHTHAMCQ FAICO MCQ Bank:
✓ Clinical, theory, anatomy, physiology, and case-based MCQs — all in one place
✓ Questions based on previous year patterns and real exam recalls from FAICO sittings
✓ Content curated directly from AAO BCSC, Kanski, Shields, Ryan, Parsons, and Khurana
✓ Refined using inputs from candidates who have already cleared FAICO
✓ Focus on practical decision-making and exam-relevant clinical reasoning
✓ Available on Android and iOS — prepare anywhere, anytime
👁 FAICO MCQs — Focused. Exam-Ready. Affordable.
Price: ₹1,129 (was ₹1,166 — 4% off)
Available on Android & iOS · Instant access
🔗 Get access: www.ophthamcq.com/new-courses/14-faico-mcqs
🌐 Explore all products: www.ophthamcq.com
FAICO 2026 — Quick Reference Card
|Detail |Info |
|--------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|
|Conducted by |AIOS (All India Ophthalmological Society) |
|Stage 1 |60 MCQs · 60 minutes · Online |
|Pass mark |70% (42 out of 60) |
|Stage 2 |OSCE + Viva Voce |
|Written test centres|New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad|
|Exam fee |₹10,000 (DD payable at Delhi) |
|Eligibility cut-off |30 September 2026 |
|Max subspecialties |2 (lifetime) |
|App platforms |Android & iOS |
OPHTHAMCQ is an independent ophthalmology exam preparation platform. FAICO is an examination conducted by the All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS). For official eligibility, dates, and registration, always refer to aios.org.
© 2026 OPHTHAMCQ — The Ultimate Ophthalmology MCQ Treasure · www.ophthamcq.com
