Dr Gerard Fernandes is one of the UK’s most respected Optometrists, winning Optometrist of the Year 2024. After first completing a degree in Chemistry, he returned to university to study Optometry, driven by a desire to combine science with genuine human connection. Over his career, he has built an outstanding reputation for clinical excellence, earning postgraduate qualifications in Independent Prescribing and a Diploma in Glaucoma, while maintaining a clinical role at Bristol Eye Hospital.

Gerard co-founded an Independent Opticians called Lynne Fernandes Optometrists with his wife, helping grow the practice into one of the most trusted names in eye care across Bristol and beyond. His focus on Personalised, Predictive and Preventative eye care, through the EyeSense programme, reflects his belief that patients deserve proactive, future-focused care delivered with warmth, honesty, and exceptional expertise.