Finder

Specialises in

• Medical

• Surgical

Offers

• Face-to-face consultations
• Video and telephone consultations

About me

Mr Blanch is a Consultant Ophthalmologist specialising in neuro-ophthalmology, including diseases of the optic nerve, eye movements and brain disorders affecting vision, as well as cataract surgery.

He completed his Medical Degree in Glasgow, graduating with honours, his PhD in Birmingham and his Ophthalmology training in the West Midlands, winning the Harcourt Medal for the highest annual mark in the Royal College of Ophthalmologists fellowship examination. before completing fellowship training in neuro-ophthalmology in Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

He was first appointed as a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at University Hospitals Birmingham in 2018, where he is clinical lead for neuro-ophthalmology, leading the largest neuro-ophthalmology department in Europe, having also run the neuro-ophthalmology fellowship programme from 2018-2023. He is also Defence Consultant Advisor Ophthalmology to the UK Defence Medical Services, Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Birmingham and Visiting Researcher at the National Institute of Health (USA).

Mr Blanch is a clinician scientist who combines clinical and basic science research into retinal cell death mechanisms with clinical ophthalmic imaging research defining the retinal manifestations of systemic disease and traumatic brain injury and the management of ocular trauma. He has received research funding from the Ministry of Defence, the United States Department of Defense, Blind Veterans UK, Academy of Medical Sciences, Fight for Sight UK, the MRC, the Wellcome Trust and the NIHR. He has published over 60 peer-reviewed articles, 5 book chapters and has two patents.

In 2020, Mr Blanch was awarded the Ancient order of St Lucia by the Society of Military Ophthalmology, in 2022 he was recognised as one of the top 5 consultants in terms of patient compliments across University Hospitals Birmingham, and in 2023 the La Piana-Mazzoli award by the American Society of Ocular Trauma as the most outstanding individual, military or civilian, in the field of military ophthalmic traumatology. He chaired the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Members in Training Committee from 2020-2022 and currently sits on the International Committee of the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society. He was Section Editor for Eye (journal of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists) for neuro-ophthalmology and for trauma from 2017-2021.

Areas of interest

Neuro-ophthalmology; Cataract surgery; Ocular trauma

Medical secretaries

• Ms Hawa Omar
• Edgbaston Eye Consultants 22 George Road Edgbaston Birmingham B15 1PJ
• 0121 667 3927
• 07763 387939
• hawa@edgbastoneye.co.uk