Dr. Blake Fortes

OphthalmologyRetina Specialist
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Areas of Expertise

Retinal Tears and Detachments
Retinal Artery and Vein Occlusions
Scleral Buckle
Intravitreal Injections
Retinal Laser Treatments

About Me

Dr. Blake H. Fortes is a board-certified ophthalmologist who joined the Retina Group of Florida following the completion of a two-year fellowship in vitreoretinal diseases and surgery at the prestigious UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute in Los Angeles. During his fellowship, he provided patient care and trained residents at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, the Los Angeles County hospital system, and the West LA Veterans Affairs Medical Center. In recognition of his surgical expertise, he received the 2025 Real World Ophthalmology Skilled Surgeon Award.

He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Miami with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and was awarded merit-based and research scholarships. He subsequently graduated from medical school at Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine where he received multiple recognitions including the Outstanding Academic Performance Award for every year of medical school and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. After graduation, he completed his internship and ophthalmology residency training at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where he received numerous honors including the Ophthalmology Academic Achievement Award and the Vitreoretinal Surgery Foundation Research Award. He is Board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology.

Dr. Fortes has published many peer-reviewed articles and book chapters in leading journals and has presented his research at numerous national and international conferences. He is a member of the American Society of Retina Specialists, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Vit Buckle Society, and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family and outdoor activities like running and hiking.

Training

  • in vitreoretinal diseases and surgery

    UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute

    Fellowship
  • Ophthalmology

    Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota

    Residency
  • Doctor of Medicine

    Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine

    Medical School
  • University of Miami

    Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

    University of Miami

    Undergraduate

Awards & Honors

  • Ophthalmology Academic Achievement Award

    Mayo Clinic

  • Vitreoretinal Surgery Foundation Research Award

    Vitreoretinal Surgery Foundation

  • Outstanding Academic Performance Award

    Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine

  • Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society Induction

    Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society

  • Real World Ophthalmology Skilled Surgeon Award

    2025

    Real World Ophthalmology

Certifications & Licensure

Licensed In
CA, FL, MN
License Numbers
A185112, ME172651, 67739

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