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 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!!
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.
Octovue 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.
Conditions We Treat
- Keratoconus
- Corneal Transplant
- Corneal Scarring
- High Astigmatism
- Myopia in Children
- Myopia in Adults
- "Difficult to Fit" Eyes
- Post-LASIK Ectasia
- Double Vision
- Corneal Irregularities
- Dry Eye Disease
- Pellucid Marginal Degeneration
- Graft vs. Host Disease
- Sjogren’s Syndrome
- Steven's Johnson Syndrome
- Trauma
- Migraines / Light Sensitivity
- Post-RK (Radial Keratotomy)
Our Specialties
Specialty Contact Lenses
Specialty Contact Lenses
Myopia Management
Myopia Management
- Orthokeratology contact lenses are a great option for children that do not want to wear glasses or contact lenses during the day.
- Orthokeratology lenses allow children to see and experience the world like children that never needed glasses or contacts! Orthokeratology contact lenses are worn only at night and act as night-time retainer lenses. They will correct the child’s vision to see great during the day, while slowing the progression of myopia.
- Countless studies have demonstrated great efficacy and safety of orthokeratology9,10,11. Orthokeratology is often the contact lens of choice for children that are active in sports, love to swim, or simply do not want to deal with the hassle of glasses or contacts during the day.
- An added benefit is that the contact lens will never leave home, so parents have the ability to monitor how the child is caring for their lenses, assure good hygiene, etc.
- Orthokeratology works through fluid hydraulics. The lens rests on the tear layer of the eye. The anatomy of an orthokeratology contact lens allows the tear layer of the eye to shift fluid within the cornea which temporarily results in a shape change of the cornea. This shape change of the cornea functions to allow the child to see clearly when the lens is removed, and also changes the way light comes into the eye to slow the progression of myopia. Often, the shape change can last more than 24 hours, but the child is still encouraged to wear the lens nightly.
- MiSight daily disposable contact lenses are the only FDA approved contact lens specifically approved for myopia control12. Other options, such as orthokeratology, are FDA approved for myopia correction, but through studies have been shown to effectively reduce myopia progression.
- MiSight contact lenses are worn during the day and slow the average myopic progression by 59% 6,12.
- During the 6 years FDA clinical trial, there were no adverse events6,12. Clinical trials found that children wearing these lenses experienced great comfort and handling ability with applying and removing lenses 6,12. At the end of a 6-year period of wearing MiSight contact lenses,
23% of the children showed complete
stability of myopia!
- These contact lenses look and feel like a traditional contact lens but have special optics integrated within the contact lens that prevent abnormal elongation of the eye, and hence, slow myopic progression.
- Atropine is an eye drop that is taken nightly to help slow myopic progression. It is compounded to low-doses for myopia control, specifically 0.05% at Charlotte Contact Lens Institute. This is the best dose for myopia control outcomes and safety. Often, atropine is prescribed for children that are not quite ready for contact lenses or as an added treatment for children with aggressive myopic progression. Glasses will need to be worn during the day. Low-dose atropine slows progression by over 50% 13.
- Low dose atropine drops are typically tolerated very well by children. Some side effects may include light sensitivity and near vision blur13. If these side effects occur, they usually last up to around two weeks. If children experience these side effects longer, the dosage will be decreased.
- Atropine is thought to slow myopic progression by acting directly on the layers of the eye that grow abnormally during the myopic process.
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 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 customers have to say about us.
Dr. Daniel Helin
After graduating from The Ohio State University with his undergraduate degree, Dr. Helin stayed at Ohio State to attend the Ohio State College of Optometry.
During his professional career Dr. Helin has focused on specialty contact lenses and “hard to fit” corneal cases. He specializes in fitting contact lenses for keratoconus, post RK and corneal transplants, along with other corneal irregularities and corneal scarring. Daniel is also experienced in myopia management, including both ortho-k and MiSight. Dr. Helin views the cornea as the gateway to optimizing vision and he enjoys focusing on patient education and thoroughly answering patient questions.
Dr. Helin is a member of the American Optometric Association and the North Carolina Optometric Society and is a future candidate for the Fellowship of the Scleral Lens Education Society.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Donec ut cursus tortor, non convallis felis. Suspendisse eget mattis ex, in facilisis velit. Sed congue lorem at quam blandit ornare. Aliquam ullamcorper pellentesque mauris. Curabitur ac mi pellentesque, iaculis lectus id, porta ante.
Maecenas rutrum rhoncus arcu et condimentum. Pellentesque gravida lacus libero, et accumsan mi luctus molestie. Cras quis nibh varius, viverra quam id, euismod nisl. Sed sollicitudin pharetra lacus vel accumsan. Sed sollicitudin eleifend quam. Quisque finibus malesuada tellus, lobortis volutpat ante auctor et.
Mauris porta in nisi at imperdiet. Curabitur non purus ornare, feugiat ante non, venenatis arcu. Sed dictum, turpis ornare rhoncus feugiat, urna velit rutrum magna, facilisis tincidunt tortor tellus eu tellus. Nulla facilisi. Pellentesque vel nibh dolor.
After graduating from The Ohio State University with his undergraduate degree, Dr. Helin stayed at Ohio State to attend the Ohio State College of Optometry.
During his professional career Dr. Helin has focused on specialty contact lenses and “hard to fit” corneal cases. He specializes in fitting contact lenses for keratoconus, post RK and corneal transplants, along with other corneal irregularities and corneal scarring. Daniel is also experienced in myopia management, including both ortho-k and MiSight. Dr. Helin views the cornea as the gateway to optimizing vision and he enjoys focusing on patient education and thoroughly answering patient questions.
Dr. Helin is a member of the American Optometric Association and the North Carolina Optometric Society and is a future candidate for the Fellowship of the Scleral Lens Education Society.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Donec ut cursus tortor, non convallis felis. Suspendisse eget mattis ex, in facilisis velit. Sed congue lorem at quam blandit ornare. Aliquam ullamcorper pellentesque mauris. Curabitur ac mi pellentesque, iaculis lectus id, porta ante.
Maecenas rutrum rhoncus arcu et condimentum. Pellentesque gravida lacus libero, et accumsan mi luctus molestie. Cras quis nibh varius, viverra quam id, euismod nisl. Sed sollicitudin pharetra lacus vel accumsan. Sed sollicitudin eleifend quam. Quisque finibus malesuada tellus, lobortis volutpat ante auctor et.
Mauris porta in nisi at imperdiet. Curabitur non purus ornare, feugiat ante non, venenatis arcu. Sed dictum, turpis ornare rhoncus feugiat, urna velit rutrum magna, facilisis tincidunt tortor tellus eu tellus. Nulla facilisi. Pellentesque vel nibh dolor.
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 with two young girls.
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 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 is married and has two young daughters. They also have two dogs, Otis the Lab, and Remi the (crazy) Weimaraner. In her free time Dr. Cerenzie enjoys mountain biking, hiking, fitness, water sports, and traveling. Dr. Cerenzie also enjoys live music, especially EDM. One fun fact is that Dr. Cerenzie was on the waterski team at Texas A&M. Click here for Dr. Cerenzie’s full bio. Note this link should navigate to the main Dr. Cerenzie page (under the About tab).
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.
Octovue 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.
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
