Exchange Street, Portland, Maine

Look closer,
Portland.

Unhurried eye exams, contact lens fittings and dry eye care, with a frame wall worth the trip.

New patients welcomeAdults and kids 3 and up
Most vision plansAnd many medical PPO plans
Thursdays until 7Plus two Saturdays a month
Dry eye visitsUsually within the week

Which is clearer, 1 or 2?

Every eye exam has this moment. Here it's a five-round game with Portland scenes: pick whichever looks better to you, and we'll suggest a visit and a frame style to start with.

Just for fun. It doesn't test your vision or replace an exam, and your answers stay on this page.

Far or near
Late screens
Afternoon comfort
Frames or not
Shape

Round 1 of 5

Which would you rather see sharp, 1 or 2?

Tap a lens, or press 1 or 2 on your keyboard.

Eyes change quietly. Nothing hurts, so it waits.

The lens wheel at work. Dr. Haskell's room, most weekday mornings.

The menu drifts to arm's length. Headlights on 295 start to glow at the edges. The screen feels heavier by four o'clock. None of it is an emergency, which is exactly why it gets put off.

Most adults are seen every year or two. Your optometrist will tell you what's right for your eyes, and why.

Reading at arm's length
Glare when you drive at night
Tired, dry eyes by the afternoon
A prescription older than your phone

Pick the visit. We'll handle the rest.

Not sure which one? Book a routine exam and mention what's bothering you, or play 1 or 2 for a suggestion. The desk can switch it later.

A patient looks through a phoropter, the lens wheel used to find a glasses prescription

Routine eye exam

A vision check, an updated glasses prescription, and a careful look at the health of each eye. Dilation if your doctor recommends it.

Time: About 45 minutes
Self-pay: From $129
Coverage: Usually covered by vision plans

Book this visit

Your hour in the chair, minute by minute.

No conveyor belt. A routine exam here is booked for 45 minutes, and frames take as long as you like.

0:00
Say hello

A few minutes at the desk. Bring your insurance card, your current glasses or contacts, and any questions you've been saving up.
0:05
Pre-tests

Quick photos and measurements on a couple of machines. You rest your chin, look at a target and blink when asked.
0:15
Which is clearer, 1 or 2?

Your doctor flips lenses and you say which looks better. "I can't tell" is a perfectly good answer. We just flip again.
0:30
The health check

A bright microscope look at the front and back of each eye. If you're dilated, plan on blurry, light-sensitive eyes for a few hours. We keep spare sunglasses at the desk.
0:45
Frames and questions

Your doctor walks you through the numbers in plain English. Then try frames for as long as you like, or take your prescription anywhere. It's yours.

Rows of eyeglass frames on glass shelves

A frame wall worth the trip.

About 900 frames from small independent makers, from $95. Kids' frames start at $59 and live on the low shelf. Bring your own frames and we'll fit new lenses.

Our house edit, named for the streets around us. Try any of them on during booking.

Three optometrists. No rush between them.

Dr. Ingrid Haskell in a white coat in an exam room

Dr. Ingrid Haskell, OD

Founder. Comprehensive exams for adults and families.

Grew up in Cape Elizabeth and opened Clearwater on Exchange Street. Known for explaining what every number on your prescription means.

Dr. Mateo Ruiz sitting beside exam equipment

Dr. Mateo Ruiz, OD

Contact lenses and dry eye.

Fits the tricky ones: astigmatism, multifocals and first-timers who are nervous about touching their eye.

Dr. Adaeze Okafor smiling and adjusting her glasses

Dr. Adaeze Okafor, OD, FAAO

Kids' exams and LASIK consults.

Has a picture chart for every age and a straight answer for anyone asking whether LASIK makes sense for them.

Sample team for this demo. Names and photos are illustrative.

What it costs, before you sit down.

Most vision plans cover a yearly exam, and dry eye visits are often billed to medical insurance. We check your benefits before you arrive and tell you what you'll owe, if anything.

Bring your insurance card. We'll scan it at the desk. Please don't type member IDs into forms online, including ours.

FSA and HSA cards welcome. Payment plans for LASIK are arranged with the surgeon.

Self-pay, no insurance

Routine eye exam$129
Contact lens fitting added to an exam, $110 for first-time wearers+$75
Dry eye visit$145
Kids' eye exam under 13$99
LASIK consultFree

Framesfrom $95
Single vision lensesfrom $110

Demo prices for this sample site.

“I’d put off an exam for six years. Nobody made me feel bad about it, and I left with glasses I actually like.”

Dana, South Portland

“Dr. Ruiz got my contacts right and texted me the follow-up time before I reached my car.”

Marcus, Westbrook

“My daughter picked her frames off the low shelf all by herself. That was the whole battle.”

Jess, Falmouth

Sample notes written for this demo, not real reviews.

Fishing boats tied up along a wharf in Portland's Old Port

Two blocks up from the wharves.

41 Exchange Street, Portland, ME 04101
Second floor, elevator from the lobby

Mon to Wed: 8:30 to 5:30
Thursday: 10:00 to 7:00
Friday: 8:30 to 4:00
Saturday: 9:00 to 1:00, 1st and 3rd
Sunday: Closed

Fore Street Garage, two blocks. We validate one hour.
METRO stops at Monument Square, a five-minute walk.
Coming from Peaks or Chebeague? Tell us your boat and we'll time the visit to it.
Step-free from the street, elevator to the office.

Patients come from Portland, South Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Falmouth, Westbrook, Scarborough, Yarmouth and the Casco Bay islands.

Good questions, straight answers.

Can I drive after my eyes are dilated?

Many people do, with sunglasses, but everyone reacts differently and the blur can last a few hours. If you'd rather not, bring a driver or ask us to book a morning slot so it wears off by afternoon. Not every exam needs dilation; your doctor will tell you.

How often should I have an eye exam?

It depends on your age, your eyes and your health. Many adults are seen every year or two, and some people need more often. Your optometrist will recommend a schedule at your visit.

My contact lens prescription expired. Can you just renew it?

A contact lens prescription needs a current exam and a lens check on your eyes. Book a routine exam with a contact lens fitting; if your lenses already work well, the fitting part is usually quick.

Do you take my insurance?

We work with most vision plans and many medical PPO plans. Tell us your plan name when you book and bring your card. We confirm your benefits before the visit, so there are no surprises at the desk.

How young is too young for an eye exam?

We see kids from age 3 with picture charts and plenty of patience. If you've noticed squinting, head tilting or sitting very close to screens, mention it when you book.

Can I buy glasses somewhere else?

Of course. Your glasses prescription is yours and we hand you a copy at the end of the exam. We're happy to adjust frames you bought elsewhere, too.

Something happened to my eye today. Should I book online?

No. Call us at (207) 555-0148 during office hours and we'll fit you in or tell you where to go. For a chemical splash, a serious injury or sudden loss of vision, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

See you in the chair.

Book online in about a minute, or call and talk to a real person at the front desk.

Book an exam (207) 555-0148

Look closer,
Portland.