YOUR LOCAL TOOWOOMBA OPTOMETRISTSEye care that feels a little more personal
At LA Optical, we believe great eye care starts with getting to know the person behind the eyes.
We’re a locally owned, independent optometry practice in East Toowoomba, providing personalised eye care for children, adults and families. Led by optometrists Abby Ussher and Lauren Hess, our approach combines professional expertise with genuine care, thoughtful conversations and a commitment to making every visit feel comfortable.
Whether it’s your child’s very first eye test or you’ve been wearing glasses for decades, you’ll find knowledgeable, down-to-earth care that puts you and your vision first.
A fresh approach
to family eye care
We know an optometrist appointment can feel very different depending on who’s sitting in the chair.
A five-year-old visiting for their first eye test needs something different from a teenager struggling to see the classroom board, a parent spending their days in front of a screen, or an adult noticing changes in their vision.
That’s why we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all eye care.
We take the time to listen, understand what’s happening in your everyday life and thoroughly assess your vision and eye health. Then we explain what we find in language that actually makes sense, so you can feel confident about what happens next.
Meet the Team
Abby Ussher
I decided to become an optometrist a few years after I finished high school, I got a traineeship at my local independent optometrist as an optical dispenser and that’s where I developed a passion for eyes and vision. I love my job because of the people I meet, no two eyes are the same, and vision is such an integral part of peoples lives, jobs and hobbies. I especially enjoy helping people from rural and regional areas, like where I grew up.
Abby & Lauren previously worked at Neilson Eyecare alongside David Neilson.
In my spare time, I enjoy baking, travelling, trivia nights, spending time with my husband, daughter Lyla, son Leo and our two dogs Digby and Zuko.
BVisSci (Distinction). MOptom (Distinction)
Lauren Hess
B.App Sc Optom (Hons), Grad Cert Ocular TherapeuticsI always wanted to do something in the health and medicine fields, but with family friendly hours. After 15 years in the field I love optometry even more than the day I started. I love being able to help my patients, educate them, and how I get to blend science and fashion in a really unique way!
I love spending time with my family – my husband and my beautiful daughter and two sons. We love to spend time outdoors with the animals on our farm, go to the park and play games. I also love to cook and read in my spare time.
Lauren will be on maternity leave from October 2026
Alex Norris
Alex is the person to see if you are seeking a thorough eye consultation with down to earth quality advice. He has over 20 years’ experience in optometry practice in Qld. He has a wide variety of skill/interest in eye care including dry eye therapy, advanced contact lens practice and glaucoma management. For the past 3 years he has contributed his skills as director & vice president to peak professional body Optometry Australia Qld/NT.
When not working Alex enjoys cycling, sipping lattes and listening to groovy funk & jazz.
B.App Sc Optom; GraD Cert Ocular TherapeuticS
Helen Flohr
Helen graduated from QUT in 1996 with Honours and subsequently completed a Graduate Certificate in Ocular Therapeutics, which enabled her to prescribe ocular medication. She has over 30 years of optometry experience across rural, regional and metro QLD.
Helen grew up in the Darling Downs region, and loves the countryside. She has two cats called Toothless and Callie.
B.App Sc Optom; Grad Cert Ocular Therapeutics
MEET ZUKOPossibly Toowoomba’s furriest optometry team member.
If you visit LA Optical when Abby is working, there’s a good chance you’ll be greeted by Zuko.
Zuko is Abby’s black Golden Retriever-Labrador cross and a former guide dog who completed more than 18 months of specialised training before being rehomed as a therapy dog in 2023.
Calm, gentle and exceptionally good at making people smile, Zuko has become an important part of the LA Optical experience. He’s particularly helpful for children and anyone who feels a little nervous about visiting the optometrist, happily offering a quiet presence, a friendly greeting or a reassuring nuzzle.
Of course, we understand not everyone is a dog person. If you have allergies or would prefer some space from Zuko during your appointment, just let us know and we’ll happily make arrangements.
His feelings will recover. Eventually.
A MORE CONSCIOUS APPROACHLooking after your vision, with an eye on the future.
Caring for people and caring for our environment don’t have to be separate things.
Our vision is to provide personalised vision, innovative eye care and a sustainable future, and that philosophy influences the choices we make throughout our practice.
We seek out eyewear brands using more responsible materials, including recycled plastics, bio-metals, sustainably sourced materials and biodegradable acetates. We partner with an Australian lens manufacturer to offer locally made spectacle lenses, including options created using renewable biomass materials.
Behind the scenes, we’re also working to reduce waste through digital records, recycled paper, considered packaging and eyewear recycling programs through Spexcycle and Opticycle.
They might seem like small choices individually, but together they help us work towards a better kind of optometry for our patients, our local community and the environment we all share.
PROUDLY INDEPENDENT. PROUDLY LOCAL.Local people looking after local eyes.
Being an independent Toowoomba optometrist means we're free to put our patients at the centre of every decision.
We're not part of a large optical chain. LA Optical is locally owned and operated by Abby and Lauren, who are also the optometrists you'll meet in the consultation room.
For us, independence means having the freedom to take our time, recommend products and treatments based on your individual needs, and handpick eyewear brands that reflect our commitment to quality and sustainability.
It also means building real relationships with the people and families we care for, often over many years.
Because when it's your own practice, every patient matters personally.
We’re proud to be part of the Toowoomba and Darling Downs community, and even prouder when caring for someone’s eyes becomes caring for their whole family’s.