Personal profile
Research overview
I am Senior Lecturer in the Infection and Global Health Division, School of Medicine, University of St Andrews and Honorary Professor at the International Centre for Eye Health (ICEH), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. As well as being a Consultant Ophthalmologist in NHS Fife I hold Honorary Lecturer positions at Hasanuddin University, Indonesia, and the University of Rwanda. In addition I serve as technical advisor for Christian Blind Mission (CBM) Global and Tanzaneye NGOs, working closely with all the world’s major eye care NGOs, and contribute globally as a Board Member of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and as a member of the Editorial Board of the Community Eye Health Journal.
My research focuses on developing and implementing frugal, solar-powered diagnostic devices through the Arclight Project, with training embedded in health worker curricula across Africa and Asia. I also lead CVI-SIM, a patient-co-designed virtual reality simulation to improve understanding and management of cerebral visual impairment (CVI).
Profile Keywords
Ophthalmology; Global Health; Early Diagnosis; Frugal Technology; Medical Education
Education/Academic qualification
Doctor of Philosophy, Evalua&ng the Arclight: A Low-Cost Tool to Strengthen Eye Care and Training in Low Resource Se=ngs, University of St Andrews
1 Jul 2025 → …
Award Date: 1 Jul 2025
Fellowship Paediatric Ophthalmology, Royal Children's Hospital, Queensland, Royal Children’s Hospital Herston
Award Date: 1 Jul 2006
Fellow, Royal College of Ophthalmologists (UK), Royal College of Ophthalmologists
Award Date: 1 Nov 2004
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, University of Edinburgh
Aug 1987 → Jul 1993
Award Date: 1 Jul 1993
Bachelor of Science, Pathology, University of Edinburgh
Aug 1989 → Jul 1990
Award Date: 4 Jul 1991
External positions
Editor, Community Eye Health Journal
1 Aug 2025 → …
Board of IAPB, International Association for the Prevention of Blindness
1 Oct 2024 → …
Honorary Professor, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
1 Aug 2024 → …
Technical Advisor CBM Global
1 Oct 2021 → …
Honorary Lecturer , Universitas Hasanuddin
1 Sept 2019 → …
Honorary Senior Lecturer, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Rwanda
28 Feb 2017 → …
Keywords
- RE Ophthalmology
- Diagnostics
- Medical Education
- Global Health
- Biomedical Engineering
- Frugal Technology
- Retinopathy of Prematurity
- Diabetic Retinopathy
- Visual Impairment
- Blindness
- Simulation Training
- Glaucoma
- Low & Middle Income Countries
- LC5201 Education extension. Adult education. Continuing education
- Interprofessional Education
- Simulation Training
- Low & Middle Income Countries
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 4 Quality Education -
SDG 5 Gender Equality -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities -
SDG 13 Climate Action
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Assessment of decision-making with locally run and web-based large language models versus human board recommendations in otorhinolaryngology, head and neck surgery
Buhr, C. R., Ernst, B. P., Blaikie, A., Smith, H., Kelsey, T., Matthias, C., Fleischmann, M., Jungmann, F., Alt, J., Brandts, C., Kämmerer, P. W., Foersch, S., Kuhn, S. & Eckrich, J., 1 Mar 2025, In: European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology. 282, 3, p. 1593-1607 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Chasing sleep physicians: ChatGPT-4o on the interpretation of polysomnographic results
Seifen, C., Huppertz, T., Gouveris, H., Bahr-Hamm, K., Pordzik, J., Eckrich, J., Smith, H., Kelsey, T., Blaikie, A., Matthias, C., Kuhn, S. & Buhr, C. R., 1 Mar 2025, In: European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology. 282, 3, p. 1631-1639 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Clinical examination of the macula
Blaikie, A., 29 Jan 2025, In: Community Eye Health Journal . 37, 125, p. 4-6 3 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Decolonising the 'red' reflex test: transitioning from terminology based on colour to anatomy
Kelly, C., Anderson, M., Smith, H., Kousha, O., Hitchcott, N., Reddy, M. A. & Blaikie, A., 1 Feb 2025, In: Eye. 39, 2, p. 379–381 3 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Emulation of the subjective experience of visual dorsal stream dysfunction: a description of three in depth case studies
St Clair Tracy, H., McDowell, N., Dutton, G. N., Ravenscroft, J., Hay, I. & Blaikie, A., 6 Jan 2025, In: Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 18, 14 p., 1496811.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile
Projects
- 8 Finished
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A Frugal Engineering Approach to Laser Treatment for the Prevention of Blindness
Samuel, I. (PI), Blaikie, A. (CoI), Kousha, O. (CoI) & Williams, W. (CoI)
STAIRS - St Andrews Interdisciplinary Research Support
1/08/21 → 31/07/22
Project: Standard
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Activities
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Technological Use in Retinal Imaging: The Arclight Project
Blaikie, A. (Speaker)
Nov 2024 → …Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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Presentation on CVI by Dr Andrew Blaikie (Ophthalmologist) at the CP Scotland Annual Conference 2024
St Clair Tracy, H. (Participant) & Blaikie, A. (Participant)
2 Oct 2024Activity: Other activity types › Other
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ONE Retinoblastoma World Conference
Blaikie, A. (Speaker)
Oct 2024 → …Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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Newborn eye screening with the Arclight Project package
Blaikie, A. (Speaker)
Sept 2024Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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Frugal Technology for Eye Care
Blaikie, A. (Speaker)
Aug 2024 → …Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Prizes
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Alastair Fielder Prize for Best Paper - Diabetic Retinopathy Imaging in Uganda using the Epicam
Nozad, L. (Recipient) & Nozad, L. (Recipient), Apr 2019
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Best Oral Presentation; ‘First Prize’ – ‘Comparative Evaluation of the Arclight Otoscope’, ENT Scotland Winter Meeting, Stirling Court Hotel, Dr Shiying Hey, 9th November, 2018, Supervising Consultant
Blaikie, A. (Recipient), 9 Nov 2018
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Best Patient Support Initiative, The Bayer Ophthalmology Honours, Runner up
Blaikie, A. (Recipient), Jan 2016
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Best Poster Presentation - ‘First Prize’ - Presbyopia prevalence in rural and urban non-communicable disease clinics in Malawi
Blaikie, A. (Recipient), Apr 2017
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Best Research Project - "First Prize" Retinopathy of Prematurity Screening Using a New Low Cost Hand Held Retinal Camera (Epicam) in Indonesia.
Blaikie, A. (Recipient), Feb 2016
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Press/Media
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St Andrews students’ African expedition is a sight for sore eyes
30/05/19
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Relating to Research
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Fife students’ epic cycle to prevent hearing and sight loss in Africa
30/05/19
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Relating to Research
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STV news story on the return of the Arclight Tandem team to St Andrews
30/05/19
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Relating to Research
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Twitter story from Radio Tay News: Two @univofstandrews students have travelled 10,000km across Africa to help in the fight against preventable blindness and deafness.
28/05/19
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Relating to Research
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St Andrews Uni students' epic cycle to prevent hearing and sight loss in Africa
28/05/19
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Relating to Research
Impacts
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Use of CVI-SIM Visual Simulation in Training Nigerian Health Professionals to Improve CVI Understanding
St Clair Tracy, H. (Participant) & Blaikie, A. (Participant)
Impact: Health and Welfare Impact, Educational Impact (Beyond St Andrews)
File
Thesis
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Evaluating the Arclight: a low-cost tool to strengthen eye care and training in low resource settings
Blaikie, A. (Author), Sullivan, F. (Supervisor), 4 Jul 2025Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis (PhD)