OUR TEAM PROVIDES OPTOMETRY SERVICES TO THE DARLING DOWNS

Abby Ussher - Owner and therapeutic Optometrist

Abby enjoys practicing full scope optometry, with special interests in contact lenses, ortho-k and myopia control, glaucoma, diabetes, dry eyes and children’s vision. Abby is a CASA Credentialed Optometrist (CO) and can provide aviation eye examinations.

Born in country NSW, Abby grew up on the Mid North Coast of NSW. She completed her Bachelor of Vision Science with distinction at the Queensland University of Technology, and went on to receive her Master of Optometry with Distinction in 2018. She has also worked alongside many well known Optometrists and Ophthalmologists in her 14 years of experience in the optometry industry. Abby has been practicing in Toowoomba since 2018 and has settled down here with her family. Abby is on Maternity leave until May 2024, with her daughter Lyla. Abby loves dogs, and often brings in Zuko the ex guide dog, now therapy dog into the practice. 

Lauren Hess - Owner and therapeutic Optometrist



Lauren is passionate about delivering personalised, high quality eye care for the whole family, with particular interest in ocular pathology including dry eye, children’s vision, orthokeratology and myopia control. Lauren believes patient education including thorough communication to her patients is imperative to providing high quality individualised patient care.

Lauren grew up locally in a small town on the Darling Downs. She graduated from QUT in Brisbane with First Class Honours in 2011, and completed her Ocular Therapeutics training in 2016. Lauren spent the first decade of her career working with industry leaders in specialty independent optometry and ophthalmology practices in Brisbane, before relocating back to and practicing in Toowoomba since 2019. She and her young family calls Toowoomba home. Lauren loves baking, a good cup of tea, reading, cats, weekend markets, and spends most of her time with her husband Fraser and their little girl, Lacey and baby boy Henry.

Alan Twiddle -  Optometrist

Alan was the practice’s dedicated optometrist until February 2024. He enjoys spending time with his family, fishing and gardening and has and has over 30 years of experience in all aspects of eye care.

After many years of practice ownership, Alan Twiddle is eventually embarking on the journey of retirement. New owners, Lauren Hess and Abby Ussher took over the reins at Chas Sankey Fraser optometrists in February 2024, while continuing to work alongside Alan until mid 2024.