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!!
See what our patients have to say about our care on Google Reviews.
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!!
Read Dr. Cerenzie’s full bio.
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.
Specialty contact lenses are prescribed for patients who have experienced unsatisfactory results in conventional soft contact lenses. Great candidates for specialty contact lenses include those with high astigmatism, keratoconus, LASIK complications, corneal transplants, post-trauma, etc.
Explore Specialty Lenses
Myopia Management is useful for children who experience worsening prescription changes every year. Myopia management options will help your child see clearly and slow the progression of their myopia to prevent the need for thicker glasses every year.
Explore Myopia CareThe 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.
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.
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.
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.
Real-life vision goes beyond what’s measured in the exam room.
You might have HOAs if you experience…
Your vision without HOAs Your vision with HOAs 
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.
Dr. Cipperly was very helpful. Clearly, she is an experienced professional!
Very hopeful to have positive results. However, the team here are very kind, they sent a video providing guidance on how to find the office among this complex. A great experience thus far!
Dr. Cerenzie and the staff at Charlotte Contact Lens Institute are fantastic. I feel so grateful to have benefited from their expertise and wonderful care. I would highly recommend this practice to anyone with severe dry eyes. They have helped me so much.
I have Keratoconus and have worn scleral lenses for many years. My previous doctor retired & so I needed to find someone new. I came to CCLI & saw Dr. Cerenzie and am so happy I did! She spends a lot of time working with you to understand your issues & really listens to your concerns. I had begun to have double vision & through testing she recommended adding prisms to my lenses. What a difference this made! I am so thankful that I found CCLI & Dr. Cerenzie. Their entire staff are wonderful to work with.
If you’re trying to decide on whether or not to make an appointment here, do it! I have keratoconus and have had trouble getting fitted for lenses for I don’t know how many years. I decided to take the leap and come see Dr. Cipperly Who was great. The exam is very thorough and she answered all the questions that I had, and there were many. She is also very patient. I finally have found a fitting of contact lenses that can get me through my day without so much discomfort. Super thankful for CCLI and helping me see the best I can with my eye condition.
I switched to this practice when CEENTA discontinued their contact lens practice. I require specialty scleral lenses and the contact lens institute has been outstanding. I have seen all the professionals there and find them to be excellent. They all will take whatever time is necessary and address the smallest need / issue to get the fitting perfect. I could not recommend them more highly.
Dr.Cerenzie is great, she really will pursue the best vision for her patients. She really listens and will readily make adjustments if needed.
I have spent many years wearing scleral contacts. Overall it has been a frustrating experience making me question if its really worth it. Finally after doctor after doctor not being able to help me, I found Dr. C. At my first visit she spent A LOT of time just listening to my frustrations and everything I had already tried. From there she performed lots of tests and explained everything she was seeing. We came up with a plan and for the first time in a long time, I feel hopeful that I may be able to consistently wear my sclerals. The whole process was seamless and Dr. C is so kind and relatable.
Very friendly staff with exceptional knowledge. Very thorough communication with patient about their eye condition and vision with easy to understand language. Thank you very much
Very professional and Dr, takes her time to make sure you're comfortable and answers all your questions. Class operation
