about
Advanced Clinical Eye Care of Maine is the culmination of over a half century of education, learning, innovation and patient treatment first begun by Norman K. Varnum, O.D., when he started his practice in 1960 in Northern Maine. His goal then was to not only make his practice the best in the region, but also to elevate the level of eye care to the community. In spite of the many obstacles set before him; which were in many cases his colleagues antiquated ideas and practices and, too often legislative hurdles, Dr. Norman Varnum persevered and moved his practice successfully forward.
His son, Mark S. Varnum, O.D., has continued to practice eye care in this same manner. As this profession has evolved from refractive based care to medical based care, the younger Dr. Varnum’s office has had to evolve and grow to maintain the level of excellent care first begun by his father in 1960.
Dr. Mark S. Varnum, and his associates, put their outstanding skills into practice each and every day, with a renewed vigilance, to ensure that your eye care is state-of-the-art and your satisfaction with their treatment is of the highest level possible. This is a winning combination of the most recent technology available combined with highly trained professionals, who work hard to assure your satisfaction.
It is our goal, therefore, to meet that mission in a warm, caring and nurturing environment that encourages innovation and strives for improvement at every opportunity. Patients asking, questioning and suggesting alternate methods or procedures will always be encouraged, not dismissed. It has been proven time and again through the decades that our practice can only move forward and grow with the benefit of the input of everyone involved in this venture.
STAFF
Dr. Mark S. Varnum is lifelong Maine resident. He studied premed at the University of Maine at Orono and then received his Doctor of Optometry degree from the New England College of Optometry in Boston. He did his clinical rotations at Brighton Marine Public Health, The Boston Eye Center, Dimock Community Health, the State Hospital in Springfield, and the VA hospital in Leeds. Returning to Maine afterwards, he has been in private practice since.
Over his lifetime, he has been an EMT, National ski patrol, Safety Training officer of a local fire dept., active in scouting and scouting leadership, on the board of directors for the Kiwanis Club, Board of directors for the Maine Optometric Association, a Master Mason, and registered Maine Guide. He is interested in most sports and outdoor activities, but is currently gravitating to spending more of his time mountain biking and sailing.
Dr. David J. Benes was born in Pennsylvania and is a longtime resident of Maine. He comes to Vision Care of Maine with an extensive background in the ophthalmic field having been trained at the Georgetown University Medical School’s “Center for Sight” Ophthalmic Technology Program. He became nationally certified as an Ophthalmic Medical Technologist caring for patients and working along with ophthalmologists in both exam rooms and operating rooms as a surgical assistant. He spent three years at the King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, was Chief Technologist of the outpatient clinic, and became a member of the International Eye Foundation survey team in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He later attended the University of Maine system and Ohio State with studies in biology prior to obtaining his Doctorate in Optometry from the Inter American School of Optometry in 2003.
His training emphasized primary eye care for the whole family. Dr. Benes holds a State of Maine advanced therapeutic/glaucoma license to diagnose, treat, and manage glaucoma, ocular manifestation of systemic disease, ocular infections, and co-management with ophthalmologists for patients following eye surgery. He has interests in specialty contact lenses and is certified in corneal refractive therapy correction. Dr. Benes is a Diplomate of the American Optometry Association and a member of the Maine Optometric Association.
Dr. Benes enjoys outdoor activities with his wife from fly fishing, hunting, boating, motorcycling, snowmobiling, traveling, and relaxing while tending their perennial garden
Dr. Paige E. Frost received her Bachelor's degree in Biology with great distinction from Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY. She continued on to earn her Doctor of Optometry degree with honors from the New England College of Optometry in Boston, MA. Dr. Frost focused on advanced contact lens care in school and while working in private practice on her clinical rotation in Atlanta, GA. The rest of her clinical rotations were completed at the VA Hospital in White River Junction, VT, the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Cooperation in Bethel, AK, and the Dimock Community Health Center in Boston, MA.
Dr. Frost enjoys primary eye care with an interest in specialty contact lens fits with rigid gas permeable and scleral contact lenses.
Dr. David Gandelman was born and raised in Jerusalem, Israel where he also earned his Bachelor of Optometry degree with honors from Hadassah Academic College. He then worked in private practice in Israel where he gained extensive experience with refractive and binocular vision anomalies. Dr. Gandelman continue on to earn his Doctor of Optometry degree through the Advanced Standing International Program at the New England College of Optometry in Boston, MA.
Dr. Gandelman’s clinical rotations included the VA Hospital in Lowell, MA, the Pediatric Ophthalmology Clinic at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, MA, the DotHouse Community Health Center in Dorchester, MA, and the Yukon- Kuskokwim Health Cooperation in Bethel, AK.
Dr. Gandelman enjoys primary eye care with a special interest in binocular vision and pediatric care.
Dr. Jonathan F. Olmes earned his bachelor’s degree in Premedicine from the Pennsylvania State University in State College, PA. He then earned his Doctor of Optometry from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University in Elkins Park, PA. Dr. Olmes is a member of the Gold Key International Optometric Honor Society and the Beta Sigma Kappa International Optometric Honor Society.
Additionally, he earned a certificate in advanced contact lens care while in optometry school and also specialized in vision therapy while completing an internship in the pediatric department at The EyeInstitute in Philadelphia. Dr. Olmes enjoys routine eye care with an emphasis on advanced contact lens fits including corneal reshaping techniques (orthokeratology) and scleral contact lenses. He also has special interest in correcting binocular vision conditions and training athlete’s visual systems through vision therapy techniques.
Dr. Alexandra Horne was born in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. She completed her undergraduate degree at Wheaton College in Norton, MA where she studied Biology as a dual degree student with the New England College of Optometry (NECO). She graduated from NECO as a member of the Beta Sigma Kappa International Optometric Honor Society in 2017 and continued her training as a primary care and ocular disease resident in the VA Maine Healthcare System. In 2018, she became a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry.
Dr. Horne enjoys all the outdoor recreation that Maine has to offer and spends most of her free time whitewater kayaking, hiking and spending time with her dog, Talise.