Dr. Blake Fortes

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.