Dr Tim Duffy
Optometrist and Owner

B.Optom, Grad Cert Oc Therap, ACBO Member, OA Member

Tim graduated from UNSW in 1983

He commenced practising in Coonabarabran in 1984 and in 1985 opened the current practise in Gunnedah and has been servicing the district for 31 subsequent years. The Gunnedah practise has grown from one optometrist and one secretarial staff to its current 3 Optometrists, Lauren Jalkh, Alison Stuart and himself, 6 optical dispensers and 3 ancillary staff.

In 2015, Tim purchased Richard Orr’s practise in Narrabri, another independent optometrist who has served his community for over 30 years. In this practice Tim now has 2 Optometrists practicing, Sebastian Egan and Debbie Baxter as well as 2 qualified optical dispensers and 3 office staff to continue and improve eye care for the Narrabri district.

Tim was the first optometrist in the North West to complete his Ocular Therapeutics, and now co-manages and treats a vast array of eye disease and injuries in conjunction with local and metropolitan ophthalmologists.

Tim maintains his enthusiasm for optometry by staying abreast of the incredible technological improvements, from the latest computerized imaging and scanning instrumentation,  to the revolution of contact lens designs and materials, the increased sophistication of spectacle lens technology and the beauty and fashion of spectacle frames. The practise mantra is “total eyecare, quality eyewear”. He also enjoys passing on knowledge to University students.

When not working, Tim spends his time chasing his 4 children with wife Katrina. He has just finished 15 years of coaching junior rugby and continues to keep fit with his involvement with cycling and triathlon.

Dr Lauren Finlay
Optometrist

B.Optom (Hons), B.Sc, ACBO member, OA Member

Lauren studied Optometry at the University of New South Wales graduating with honors in 2014.  During her studies, she completed her preceptorship at the Australian College of Optometry and private practice at Vision Splendid (Tim Duffy Optometrist) in Gunnedah.

Lauren has a keen interest in children’s vision and also eye disease management.

She performs perception testing and comprehensive children’s eye examinations. She also implements behavioural optometry programs in line with ACBO recommendations (Australian College of Behavioural Optometry).

Lauren has a therapeutics qualification and as such is able to prescribe medications to treat anterior eye diseases and inflammations. She works together with ophthalmologists to co-manage glaucoma.

Lauren is passionate about rural eye care. In 2015 she volunteered as a member of VOSH and travelled to Romania to provide eye care to remote villages. Outside of work, Lauren enjoys horse riding.

Dr Sebastian Egan
Optometrist

OD, B.Sc, ACBO member, OA Member

Sebastian completed a postgraduate professional doctorate in Optometry from the University of Melbourne in 2015. For his undergraduate study, Sebastian completed a bachelor of science from the University of Queensland in 2011, majoring in Biomedical Science, specialising in physiology.

Sebastian is therapeutically endorsed and is able to prescribe medications to treat ocular conditions. He is able to treat acute eye infections and inflammation, including removal of metallic foreign bodies from the eye.

He also works closely with Ophthalmologists in the region to co-manage glaucoma.

Sebastian conducts comprehensive children’s vision and ocular health assessments. He also conducts perception testing and implements behavioural optometry programs according to ACBO recommendations (Australian College of Behavioural Optometry).

Sebastian is qualified to fit and prescribe soft and hard contact lenses. He also has a keen interest in managing anterior eye conditions including dry eye.

Dr Alison Stuart
Optometrist

B.Optom (Hons) UNSW, GradCertOcTher. QUT, OA Member

Alison has been with Vision Splendid since 2010, having previously worked in optometry practices in Dubbo and Sydney as well as working as a locum in various locations. But it is back in her home town of Gunnedah where she has settled with husband, Alex. Now working part-time, she is trying to achieve that balance between her professional and home life that eludes most parents with small children! Alison has played hockey with a Tamworth team on and off for the past few years and hopes to take the field again in 2017. The purchase of a bicycle is also on the wish-list, followed closely by some free time in which to ride it!

Alison loves being a country optometrist and finds great satisfaction in the variety of the job. She has a special interest in ocular pathology and enjoys good relationships with both ophthalmology practices in Tamworth. Obtaining her graduate certificate in ocular therapeutics in 2012, Alison is able to prescribe drugs for many eye conditions which has helped enormously her ability to provide quality primary eyecare to the Gunnedah community.

Dr Deborah Baxter
Optometrist

B.App.Sc (Optom)(Hons), Grad Cert Ocular Therapeutics. OAA member

Debbie studied Optometry at the Queensland University of Technology, graduating with honours in 1991. In the 25 years since her graduation, she has devoted her professional life to serving the Narrabri community as an optometrist.

Debbie has enjoyed the broad scope of rural practice and the unique challenges that it brings. More recently she studied Ocular Therapeutics and is now qualified to prescribe medications to treat eye infections and inflammation, to remove foreign bodies from the eye, and to co-manage glaucoma patients with ophthalmologists. Debbie gains personal satisfaction in meeting with and finding solutions for her patients. She has found the addition of therapeutics, in conjunction with ongoing professional education, to be excellent for enhancing the level of care that she offers.

Debbie has lived in the Narrabri community for most of her life, being born and raised here and returning after her university studies. She has also spent time as a volunteer on the “Island Mercy” medical ship, providing eye care to isolated villages in Vanuatu. She loves being part of the local community and being able to raise her family here.