Where Advanced Technology
Meets Compassionate Care
Specializing in Specialty Contact Lenses and Myopia Management
- We utilize the most advanced and specialized technology that is available worldwide.
- New patient exams involve 1.5 to 2 hours with the doctor.
- Our doctors have extensive training and experience with keratoconus, scleral lenses, and myopia management.
Where Advanced Technology
Meets Compassionate Care
Specializing in Specialty Contact Lenses and Myopia Management
- We utilize the most advanced and specialized technology that is available worldwide.
- New patient exams involve 1.5 to 2 hours with the doctor.
- Our doctors have extensive training and experience with keratoconus, scleral lenses, and myopia management.
I need help with
Welcome to the
Charlotte Contact Lens Institute
The Charlotte Contact Lens Institute’s sole focus is on providing patients with the latest technology in specialty contact lenses and myopia management.
Our doctors are not only nationwide experts in the field of specialty contact lenses, but importantly, they are also skilled at showing compassion and in asking the right questions to determine the best possible treatment option. Our office was established in order to provide the best possible specialty lens care, and we have some of the most advanced technology available nationwide. Not only that, but our average initial exam is 1.5-2 hours of one-on-one time with the doctor. Even if you have tried scleral contact lenses, or other specialty contact lenses before without success, chances are we CAN help!
Here, you’re not just another patient; you’re an individual with specific needs, concerns, and aspirations. We specialize in crafting custom contact lens solutions, utilizing the latest technology such as the Pentacam AXL Wave, OVITZ, and EyePrintPRO in order to ensure optimal vision and comfort. Our approach is simple yet profound – listen, understand, and tailor a solution that transforms how you see the world.
Welcome to a place where your vision challenges meet compassionate, innovative solutions. Our doctors understand the challenges of being a ‘difficult to fit’ patient and the good news is there are solutions available to help!!
Click here to see what our patients have to say about us.
Dr. Ariel Cerenzie,
FAAO, FSLS
Dr. Cerenzie graduated from University of Houston College of Optometry and since that time her professional career has been dedicated to specializing in specialty contact lenses and myopia management. Dr. Cerenzie speaks nationally on these topics and has many industry certifications and awards, such as being named as one of the top 200 Optometrists in North America. Dr. Cerenzie lives in Fort Mill, SC, and is married, and has three children, all under 5 years old:)
Dr. Cerenzie graduated from University of Houston College of Optometry and since that time her professional career has been dedicated to specializing in specialty contact lenses and myopia management. Dr. Cerenzie speaks nationally on these topics and has many industry certifications and awards, and also being named as one of the top 200 Optometrists in North America. Dr. Cerenzie lives in Fort Mill, SC, and is married, and has three children, all under 5 years old:)
Dr. Cerenzie received her Bachelor of Science at Texas A&M University where she graduated magna cum laude. She completed her Doctor of Optometry degree at the University of Houston College of Optometry where she again graduated with magna cum laude honors.
After graduation Dr. Cerenzie completed a specialized cornea and contact lens residency at the University of Missouri – St. Louis. Additionally, Dr. Cerenzie has furthered her training by achieving fellowships in the American Academy of Optometry (FAAO) and the Scleral Lens Education Society (FSLS).
Dr. Cerenzie speaks nationwide on Myopia Management and Specialty Contact Lens related topics, and this further requires her to stay on the forefront of new technology, research, and best practices.
Many of Dr. Cerenzie’s patients are told that they are ‘difficult to fit’. They feel isolated and anxious about their vision, feeling that no one understands what they are going through. As someone who personally lives with keratoconus, Dr. Cerenzie relates to these challenges.
The entire focus of the Charlotte Contact Lens Institute is optimizing vision and comfort through contact lenses. The most fulfilling aspect of Dr. Cerenzie’s work is witnessing the life-changing impact of these lenses – from the joy of a patient seeing their child’s freckles for the first time to the newfound confidence in driving at night. Dr. Cerenzie is extremely passionate about what she does, and is honored to make a difference in her patient’s lives!
Dr. Ariel Cerenzie is a West Texas native who fell in love with North Carolina in 2018 and decided to call Charlotte home. Dr. Cerenzie and her husband have three children–two little girls and one bossed-around younger brother. In her free time, Dr. Cerenzie enjoys mountain biking, biking, weight lifting, and water sports. Dr. Cerenzie also enjoys live music of all types, including EDM, rock, and country. One fun fact is that Dr. Cerenzie was on the water ski team at Texas A&M, and she looks forward to her daughters trying to water ski soon!!
Click here for Dr. Cerenzie’s full bio.
Dr. Heather Cipperly
Dr. Heather Cipperly earned her Doctor of Optometry degree from Indiana University and then completed a residency in cornea and contact lenses at Nova Southeastern University.
Her professional focus is on fitting specialty contact lenses and managing complex eye conditions, including dry eye and myopia control. Dr. Cipperly is passionate about personalized care that improves vision and quality of life.
Dr. Cipperly is originally from Colorado, and outside of work she enjoys staying active, trying new restaurants, and embracing all that Charlotte has to offer.
Dr. Cipperly earned her Doctor of Optometry degree from Indiana University and then continued on to complete a residency in cornea and contact lenses at Nova Southeastern University.
Her professional focus is on fitting specialty contact lenses and managing complex eye conditions, including dry eye and myopia control. Dr. Cipperly is passionate about personalized care that improves vision and quality of life.
Dr. Cipperly is originally from Colorado, and outside of work she enjoys staying active, trying new restaurants, and embracing all that Charlotte has to offer.
Dr. Cipperly completed her Bachelor of Science in Health and Exercise Science at Colorado State University, where she was actively involved in leadership and service organizations.
She earned her Doctor of Optometry degree from Indiana University in 2024 and went on to complete a residency in primary care with an emphasis on cornea and contact lenses at Nova Southeastern University.
Through her residency and ongoing education, she has developed expertise in specialty contact lenses and managing complex anterior and posterior segment conditions.
Dr. Cipperly’s passion for optometry stems from a personal connection—her grandmother’s struggle with a degenerative eye condition.
Witnessing the impact of vision loss on her grandmother’s independence inspired Dr. Cipperly to help others protect and restore their vision.
She finds deep fulfillment in providing advanced, individualized care that enhances her patients’ comfort, confidence, and quality of life.
Originally from Colorado, Dr. Cipperly grew up enjoying outdoor activities like hiking and skiing, which fostered her lifelong interest in health and wellness.
She recently moved to North Carolina and is excited to build lasting connections within her new community. Outside of work, she enjoys staying active, exploring new places, and embracing all that her new home has to offer.
Our Specialties
Specialty Contact Lenses
Specialty Contact
Lenses
Myopia Management
Myopia
Management
Advanced Instruments & Technology
The Charlotte Contact Lens Institute is equipped with sophisticated technology for fitting specialty contact lenses and myopia management. Our focus on specific types of patients allows for unique and advanced instruments which are beyond what is commonly found in most eye clinics. We are proud of the cutting-edge instruments and technology which we have in office, and believe it to be some of the most advanced in the entire United States for the type of patients that we see.
Listed below are several examples of the advanced instruments and technology which we use to offer the best possible contact lenses to our patients.
Pentacam AXL Wave
The Pentacam AXL Wave is a medical device that is currently at a few Optometry offices nationwide. This device collects up to 240,000 unique data points, and these 240,000 data points are used to design a truly custom scleral lens that is specific to each patient’s eyes.
EyePrintPRO & EyeFitPRO
For patients that are unable to wear conventional sclerals, EyePrintPRO is a mold-based contact lens that has no limitations to its design. Often, EyePrintPRO is reserved for patients that are unable to obtain a healthy or comfortable fit with scan-based scleral lenses.
Optovue Solix OCT
The Optovue Solix OCT enhances scleral lens fitting by allowing our doctors to view each individual curve of scleral lenses on eye to fine-tune a patient’s fit. This allows our doctors to make adjustments in the order of microns, which is one-thousandth of a millimeter.
Wavefront-Guided Clarity with OVITZ
xwave Technology
Real-life vision goes beyond what’s measured in the exam room.
Do you have higher order aberrations (HOA)?
You might have HOAs if you experience…
Glare & Flare
Halos
Starburst
Ghosting
Double Vision
Blur
Conditions We Treat
- Keratoconus
- "Difficult to Fit" Eyes
- Graft vs. Host Disease
- Corneal Transplant
- Post-LASIK Ectasia
- Sjogren’s Syndrome
- Corneal Scarring
- Double Vision
- Steven's Johnson Syndrome
- High Astigmatism
- Corneal Irregularities
- Trauma
- Myopia in Children
- Dry Eye Disease
- Migraines / Light Sensitivity
- Myopia in Adults
- Pellucid Marginal Degeneration
- Post-RK (Radial Keratotomy)
Out of Town Patients
Our office has patients visit from all over the Southeastern United States, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia.
In fact, periodically other doctors in an entirely different part of the country will refer patients to the Charlotte Contact Lens Institute.
The first step for out-of-town patients would be to schedule a free and no obligation phone consultation to discuss their specific situation and goals for their vision. We understand it takes a lot of courage and trust in order to travel to see a doctor, and we are available to discuss your situation in depth.
Whether you’re traveling from one hour away, or ten, we will do everything we can to ensure you have a pleasant experience. Our office is located in the SouthPark area of Charlotte, which is a safe and central location, with plenty of shopping, dining, and hotels nearby.
What Our Patients Think of Us
