Bristol optometrist Lynne Fernandes has been awarded with one of the industry’s biggest accolades.
She won the Optometrist of the Year trophy in the annual Optician Awards in the presence of more than 500 fellow opticians from across the UK.
Lynne, who has established a successful chain of three optometrist practices in Bristol, has been a qualified optometrist for over 20 years.
At the gala awards in Birmingham, Lynne was presented with the evening’s most prestigious award by Association for Independent Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians chairman Peter Warren.
In choosing a winner, the judges looked for a passion for optics as well as hard facts.
They said: “The winner is motivated by the delight of their patients, is passionate about local optometry and involved in all aspects of the profession.”
Lynne said: “Winning an Optician Award is one of the highest accolades optical professionals, practices and companies can achieve.
“I am thrilled and delighted to have been honoured in this way. I work hard with my team to offer the highest levels of care to all our patients and we work within our local communities to encourage everyone to look after the health of their eyes.”
Lynne regularly speaks to primary schools and arranges school visits to her practices so that children can see what happens in an eye test and learn facts about eyes. She has even worked with CBeebies on an episode of a new TV series featuring a child’s first pair of glasses.
And to encourage the next generation of optical specialists, Lynne attends careers fairs and gives talks to sixth formers about life as an optometrist.
Within her practice, Lynne runs successful clinics for children, dry eye, dyslexia and blepharitis, ensuring all her optometrists are trained in these areas too. She has the most up-to-date equipment and techniques to detect, monitor and refer conditions as early as possible.
She also chairs the Avon Local Optical Committee and works with the Clinical Commissioning Group, NHS England, the Bristol Eye Hospital, as well as GP surgeries to ensure the best eye care possible in Bristol for all patients.
Lynne Fernandes Optometrists branches are on Gloucester Road and Wells Road, Bristol, and on Nailsea High Street.
Pictured: Lynne Fernandes with, from left, host Miles Jupp, AIO chairman Peter Warren and Optician magazine editor and publisher Chris Bennett
