Your Eye Care Experts in Northern Minnesota

At Northern Minnesota Eye Care, we understand how important your sight is for everyone’s overall quality of life — kids in school, families enjoying the outdoors, and older adults who deserve to enjoy their retirement to the fullest.

Have Peace of Mind
About Your Sight
Maintain
Your Independence
Enjoy
Your Family

Northern Minnesota Eye Care

We believe that you deserve to see the beauty of the world and you deserve to keep your sight as long as possible to continue doing the things that you enjoy. We understand that your eye sight is just one part of your overall well-being, which is why we take the time to give you a full medical examination, not just a prescription for corrective lenses. Because we want to treat our patients like family, we have been part of the Northern Minnesota community and have been taking care of patients here since 1979.

Our Staff

Dr. Sasha Narayan

Dr. Sasha Narayan grew up in Caledon, Ontario. She attended undergraduate school in Hamilton, Ontario where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. Dr. Narayan earned her Doctorate of Optometry (O.D.) degree from the Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago. She did her externships in Lantana, FL, White River Junction, VT, Chicago, IL and in New Orleans, LA where she completed her optometric education.

Dr. Narayan is an active member of the Moose Lake Kiwanis Club. She enjoys running, reading and spending time with her family.

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chris

Dr. Christopher McDowell

Dr. Christopher McDowell is from Olivia, Minnesota where his dad was an elementary principal and his mother was a public health nurse. He attended St. Cloud State where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Science. From there he attended the Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago where he earned his Doctorate of Optometry (O.D.) degree. He completed his optometric education with externships in Gainesville, FL, Chicago, IL, Anchorage, AL, and finally Southport, CT. 

Dr. McDowell enjoys hunting, fishing and spending time outdoors.

Dr. Ashley Hamblin

Dr. Ashley Hamblin grew up in Onamia, MN. She attended undergraduate school in River Falls, Wisconsin where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. She earned her Doctorate of Optometry (O.D.) degree from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee. She did her externships at the Cass Lake Indian Health Service in Cass Lake, MN and PineCone Vision Center in Sartell, MN where she completed her optometric education.

Dr. Hamblin is a University of Minnesota Pine County Master Gardener. In her free time, she enjoys travelling, hiking, camping, gardening, cross country skiing and spending time with family and friends.

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wandling

George Wandling, MD

Dr. Wandling is a board-certified ophthalmologist that specializes in no stitch and refractive cataract surgery. He also has interest in glaucoma, retina, oculoplastic, and other eye disorders. He was born in Charlotte, North Carolina then moved to Rochester, MN in kindergarten. Dr. Wandling attended the University of Iowa earning both a BA in mathematics and a BS in Biology. He stayed at the University of Iowa College of Medicine and graduated with research distinction after research fellowships studying LASIK, PRK, and corneal transplantation. Dr. Wandling completed his Internal medicine internship at the University of Iowa-Des Moines then his ophthalmology residency at the University of Minnesota. Prior to joining North Suburban Eye Specialists, Dr. Wandling performed thousands of eye surgeries and was on staff at the University of Illinois.

Dr. Wandling and his wife Lara raise their two young children in St. Paul. They enjoy traveling, cycling, skiing, and learning to cook new cuisine.

Asia, MA, RHIA

Practice Administrator

Asia is from Moose Lake and joined Northern Minnesota Eye Care in 2017 as the Practice Administrator. She earned a BA and MA in Health Information Management with a concentration in Health Care Administration from the College of St. Scholastica.

She has worked in a variety of health care settings in addition to Optometry including: large health systems, critical access hospitals, long-term care, and behavioral health. Asia enjoys the fact that she can use her diverse health care background to help advance the practice in providing high quality services.

She is also proud to be able to serve the community she grew up in. Asia is married and has three children and three step children. She enjoys traveling, reading, and attending her children’s events.

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cindy

Cindy, CPO, CPOC

Insurance Specialist

Cindy has been with Northern Minnesota Eye Care since 2012. She enjoys working in the eyecare field. Knowing that the community is getting medical eye care close to home is great to be part of. She also likes that the doctors offer education to staff and be up-to-date with eye care changes.

Cindy loves to spend time with her husband and two sons. You can find her at the lake, picking agates, camping or baking. She also enjoys spending time with friends and extended family.

Maryn, CPOA

Technician

Maryn started with Northern Minnesota Eye Care in February of 2012. Her favorite part about her job is interacting with patients and utilizing all of the advanced technology the practice has to offer.

Maryn became CPO certified in February of 2016 and CPOA certified in 2019.

She loves spending time with her kids.  She enjoys trips to the family cabin in Grand Marais, traveling, running and spending time with friends.

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brittany

Brittany, CPOA

Brittany has been a technician at Northern Minnesota Eye Care since 2013. Brittany enjoys interacting with patients and using all the advanced equipment and technology. She also enjoys learning something new from the doctors about eyes every day.”Who knew eyes were so interesting?”

Brittany is married and has three kids. Some of her hobbies include: fishing, 5 k’s, walks, playing in the park with her kids, camping, bonfires, cooking, making, and spending time with her friends and family.

Jessica, CPO

Receptionist

Jessica has been with Northern Minnesota Eye Care since August 2014. She loves meeting and talking to everyone who walks into the door.

Jessica loves spending time with her family. She has 2 children who are very active in hockey and other sports.

She also has a small bird farm of chickens and ducks who get spoiled every day

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sara

Sara, CPOA

Technician

Sara joined Northern Minnesota Eye Care in June 2017. Her favorite thing about her job is learning something new every day. The eye is so complex that there is always a learning opportunity.

In her free time, Sara enjoys hiking with her Mini Australian Shepherd (Stoli), listening to music, baking, and outdoor photography.

Cari

Optician

Cari enjoys seeing and interacting with patients day to day, she love learning all about the eyes and eye health.

In her spare time Cari enjoys spending time with her husband, kids and my pet dog, She also has an interest for outdoor activities, hunting and fishing.

Angie G

Angie G.

Optician

Angie joined Northern Minnesota Eye Care in 2020. She has worked in the optical profession since 2002. She enjoys interacting with patients and co-workers. Learning about the latest frame styles and lens technology has been fun and interesting over the years.

In her free time, Angie enjoys spending time at home, reading, collecting pretty chickens and growing heirloom tomatoes.

Matthew

Office Assistant

Matthew has been working at Northern Minnesota Eye Care since the end of 2017.

Matthew works a few hours a week and loves the people he works with.

Matthew enjoys going to Kiwanis with his dad, he loves music and helps with the worship at his church, he is a basketball fan, and enjoys going to the Wellness Center.

matthew

Wendy

Receptionist

Wendy recently joined the Northern Minnesota Eye Care family in 2022. She is enjoying learning everything eye related. Her favorite part about her job is helping and getting to know the community.

Born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico, Wendy moved to Minnesota in 2018. She is married to Shane with whom she shares two sons and two step children.

Locations in Northern Minnesota

Cloquet

1001 Cloquet Ave. 
Cloquet, MN 55720

Tel: (218) 879-1558
Fax: (218) 878-1907

HOURS
Monday 9:30 – 5:00
Tuesday 8:30 – 5:00
Wednesday 8:30 – 5:00
Thursday 8:30 – 5:00
Friday 8:30 – 4:30

Hinckley

45 Lady Luck Dr. 
Hinckley, MN 55037

Tel: (320) 384-6361
Fax: (320) 385-7043

HOURS
Monday Closed
Tuesday 8:30 – 5:00
Wednesday 8:30 – 5:00
Thursday 8:30 – 5:00
Friday 8:30 – 4:00

Moose Lake

312 Elm Ave. 
Moose Lake, MN 55767

Tel: (218) 485-8495
Fax: (218) 485-8498

HOURS
Monday 8:30 – 5:00
Tuesday 8:30 – 5:00
Wednesday 8:30 – 5:00
Thursday 8:30 – 5:00
Friday 8:30 – 4:30

You deserve to see the beauty of the world

We are part of the Northern Minnesota community and have been taking care of patients here since 1979. We are still independently (and locally) owned so that we can treat patients in their best interest, not recommend whatever is best for a corporation’s bottom line.