Chard

Ben Williams

Ben has been a partner at the Yeovil and Chard practices since 2005.  He started his eye training in 1993 at Sheffield University, initially practicing as an Orthoptist in NHS Ophthalmology departments.

He returned to study at City University London in 1998, becoming a qualified optometrist in 2001.  Ben has a broad range of skills particularly focused on the clinical aspects of optometry and he performs all the local NHS eye-care services. He has used participation in these schemes to grow these very popular practices; recognised locally as the place to go for matters of eye-health.  He believes in a friendly, unrushed service where eye conditions can be fully explained.  Ben is one of very few optometrists with an independent prescribing qualification. This is of particular use in emergency eyecare, and he does a weekly eye-casualty clinic at Yeovil District Hospital.

Away from work, Ben enjoys 5-a-side football, his guitar, DIY and is a coach for his son's football team.

Simon Frackiewicz

Simon first qualified as an orthoptist (eye movement specialist) and then retrained as an optometrist before becoming a partner with Robert Frith Optometrists in 2005.  With Ben Williams, he is the resident optometrist and director of our practices in Yeovil and Chard, as well as being the children’s optometrist at Yeovil District Hospital.  More recently, he gained a higher qualification in independent prescribing, meaning he is able to treat a wide range of eye diseases without the involvement of a doctor.

His areas of interest are children’s vision disorders, management of double vision and squints, and emergency eye care.  He delivers lectures and workshops to opticians and GPs around the UK and is co-vice chair of Somerset Local Optical Committee.

Sandra Ingarfield

I have worked in optics for 27 years. The first 11 years as a full time Optical Assistant, and then part time to raise my children. In 2004 I was offered a job at Robert Frith Optometrists as a Dispensing Assistant, which I accepted, still part time but later full time when both my children were in secondary school. I decided to further my career when Ben and Simon offered me the chance to study to become a Dispensing Optician. Going back to studying was a challenge in itself! In 2016 I was made Practice Manager and in 2017 I qualified as a Dispensing Optician through the Association of British Dispensing Opticians.
The one thing I have learnt in my time in optics is that you are never too old to learn!

Roisin Brady

Roisin grew up in Inverness in the Highlands of Scotland. She then graduated from Glasgow Caledonian University with a degree in Optometry in 2017 and completed her pre registration year with Black and Lizars in Glasgow before qualifying in 2018. She continued to work for Black and Lizars in Edinburgh before relocating to Somerset in late 2019 where she joined the practices with Robert Frith in both Yeovil and Chard. 

Roisin has keen interest in emergency eye care and myopia control. She looks forward to enhancing her knowledge at Cardiff University later this year where she will be studying Ocular Therapeutics to gain a qualification in independent prescribing.  

In her spare time Roisin enjoys walking, learning to play the violin and attending Netball classes. 

Lauren Barrett

Lauren started working in optics in 2013 as an optical assistant, climbing up the career ladder, before graduating from ABDO College in 2022 as a dispensing optician, with a Fellowship Diploma in ophthalmic dispensing. 

Outside of work, Lauren enjoys swimming, gardening and reading.

Nicole Dunn

Samantha