Dr. Jessica Prendergast was born and raised in Sydney. In 2013, she completed a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Biology at Cape Breton University before entering the Optometry program at the University of Waterloo, graduating in 2018. Upon returning to Cape Breton, she began practising at Island Eyecare.
Dr. Prendergast completed her 4-month Ocular Disease and Therapeutics externship at the Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center in Muskogee, Oklahoma, where she treated patients with macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy.
In 2013, she was part of the Global Medical Brigades volunteer group’s founding chapter, which travelled to Ghana to offer free healthcare and education to those in need. In 2016, she was part of the Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity group at the University of Waterloo, travelling to Peru to provide free eye exams and prescription glasses.
During her training, Dr. Prendergast has earned certification to fit various types of contact lenses, including those used for myopia control. In 2019, she attended the Alcon Experience Center in Fort Worth, Texas, for advanced training in multifocal contact lenses.
She feels lucky to be part of Island Eyecare with its particular interest in dry eye diagnosis and treatment, a growing patient issue. Starting with us as a new graduate, Dr. Prendergast looks forward to continuing to learn more and discovering new eyecare interests. Outside of optometry, dancing–tap, jazz, and ballet–has long been a part of Dr. Prendergast’s life. Lately, she has been learning how to Cape Breton step dance and can be found participating in local productions like The Nutcracker, camping in Inverness, and playing with her dog.
