Overnight Reshaping Lenses
Orthokeratology (Ortho-k)
Specially designed overnight contact lenses that gently reshape the cornea during sleep, providing crisp daytime vision without glasses or daytime contacts while halting axial elongation.
Meets Compassionate Care
Myopia Management is Life Changing
Welcome to a place where your vision challenges meet compassionate care and innovative solutions. Slow progressive nearsightedness and protect your child’s eye health for life.
Understanding Childhood Vision
What is Myopia?
Myopia, or “near-sighted”, is the ability to see objects up close clearly, but distant objects are blurry.
Young children undergo incredible growth and development, and their vision also undergoes crucial developmental steps. With every growth spurt, your child’s eye is elongating and the cornea is steepening. As a result, light that usually focuses on the retina instead ends up focusing in front of the retina, causing faraway items to appear out of focus.
Although standard glasses can be used to refocus blurry distant images, they do not slow down the physical elongation of the eye or halt the progression of myopia.
The number of children with myopia has dramatically increased over the past 10–20 years. Approximately 42% of Americans ages 12–54 are now affected by myopia—roughly double the rate of the previous generation. Fortunately, proven medical treatments for myopia management have also advanced significantly.
- Active axial elongation occurs during school-age growth spurts
- Higher myopia exponentially increases lifetime risk of retinal detachment and glaucoma
- Custom therapeutic treatments slow axial lengthening by up to 59%
Expert Pediatric Optometry
The Myopia Management Specialists in Charlotte
One of the primary clinical focuses of The Charlotte Contact Lens Institute is the treatment of progressive myopia in children and teenagers.
We have invested in state-of-the-art diagnostic medical technology—including the Pentacam AXL Wave and Optovue Solix OCT—which aid in both the precise diagnosis and custom optical design of personalized myopia management solutions.
Our doctors lecture at optometric conferences and professional meetings nationwide on the topic of myopia management. They are deeply versed in the newest clinical protocols, peer-reviewed clinical trials, and optical design data.
Myopia management treatment can result in dramatic improvements in vision, academic confidence, and long-term ocular health. Our doctors are truly passionate about helping children and teens see to the best of their ability.
If you haven’t heard much about myopia management, you are not alone. We would be happy to answer your questions and guide your family.
Proven Treatment Modalities
Options for Myopia Management
There are three main clinical options proven to help slow the worsening of a child’s vision. Each treatment works through distinct optical or biochemical mechanisms to protect your child’s sight.
FDA-Approved Daily Disposables
MiSight® 1 Day Lenses
CooperVision's FDA-approved soft daily disposable contact lenses clinically proven to slow myopia progression in children ages 8–12 by up to 59%, with zero daily cleaning required.
Prescription Nightly Drops
Low-Dose Atropine Drops
Nightly low-dose (.05%) therapeutic eye drops formulated to slow progressive axial elongation without pupil dilation or stinging, ideal for younger or lens-hesitant children.
Overnight Gentle Reshaping
An Intro to Ortho-k
Orthokeratology, or ortho-k, is the use of specially designed contact lenses to temporarily reshape the cornea in order to improve vision. This treatment is often compared to “braces for the eyes.” Most ortho-k lenses are worn overnight to gently reshape the front surface of the eye while the wearer sleeps.
The primary clinical benefit of ortho-k is that it is scientifically proven to slow the progression of myopia by creating peripheral myopic defocus.
Additionally, children wearing ortho-k enjoy complete freedom from glasses or contact lenses during the day. This freedom provides significant academic, athletic, and sports performance advantages, as well as meaningful boosts in self-confidence and quality of life.
FDA-Approved Soft Disposables
An Intro to MiSight®
CooperVision’s MiSight® 1 day contact lenses are the first FDA-approved daily wear, single-use soft contact lenses shown to slow the progression of myopia in children aged 8 to 12 years old at the initiation of treatment.
Slowing the progression of myopia in children directly protects their long-term ocular health. Every diopter of myopia reduction significantly lowers the lifetime risk of developing vision-threatening eye diseases such as retinal detachment, glaucoma, and myopic maculopathy later in adulthood.
According to the American Optometric Association, 34% of children ages 12–17 are myopic. With MiSight® daily disposables, children insert a fresh, sterile lens each morning and dispose of it before bed—no daily cleaning, solutions, or lens cases required.
Targeted Pharmaceutical Therapy
An Intro to Atropine
Atropine is an eye drop administered nightly before bedtime to help slow progressive axial elongation. It should be noted that atropine is a therapeutic agent that regulates eye growth—it does not correct a child’s refractive vision by itself.
Depending on your child's clinical needs, atropine can be prescribed as a standalone treatment (ideal for younger children or those who are not yet comfortable handling contact lenses), or in synergistic combination with optical treatments like ortho-k or MiSight®.
Our Evidence-Based Dosage Protocol: We specifically prescribe 0.05% low-dose atropine at our Charlotte office. Landmark scientific research (including the multi-year LAMP trials) demonstrated that 0.05% provides the optimal balance of maximum myopia control efficacy with minimal side effects such as light sensitivity or pupil enlargement.
The Charlotte Contact Lens Institute Difference
Why Choose Us for Myopia Management?
Our clinic is dedicated exclusively to specialty contact lenses and pediatric myopia control. We combine world-class instrumentation with compassionate, family-centered care.
The Team
The team at the Charlotte Contact Lens Institute have experience with offering myopia management treatment for hundreds of children, and are recognized experts in custom myopia control.
Advanced Technology
Our office is one of a few practices in the country equipped with the Pentacam AXL Wave and Optovue Solix OCT, measuring axial length changes down to 0.01 mm over time.
Unlimited Answers
We allow generous 90–120 minute appointments for thorough comprehensive exams and plenty of one-on-one time for answering all parent and child questions. No rushing here.
Myopia Management Specialists
At our office, myopia management is 'what we do'—a dedicated clinical specialty, providing top-tier expertise, sub-micron precision, and proven long-term results.
Access to the Doctor
Our doctors are directly accessible to answer questions you have between visits, ensuring your child receives continuous guidance, reinforcement, and the best outcome.
Affordability
We keep overhead costs low and offer very competitive pricing with flexible monthly payment options, Cherry™ patient financing, HSA, and FSA account acceptance.
Regional Clinical Excellence
Dedicated Specialty Care Built for Lasting Vision
Myopia management is a major focus area of our practice, and one of the core reasons The Charlotte Contact Lens Institute was founded.
Although a doctor referral is never required to become our patient, our practice receives patient referrals from over 100 eye doctors throughout North and South Carolina who trust us with their complex specialty lens and pediatric myopia cases.
We receive these referrals because of our recognized expertise and our advanced medical suite featuring technology found in only a handful of offices nationwide. A comprehensive consultation at our office takes 1.5 hours, allowing ample unhurried time spent directly with the doctor.
Fellow of the Scleral Lens Education Society (FSLS) Dr. Ariel Cerenzie holds this prestigious distinction—bestowed on only ~300 premier practitioners worldwide.
Have questions about your child's prescription or treatment options? Contact our team directly:
National Professional Recognition
Our Doctors Lecturing on Myopia Management
Helpful Links & Insights
Additional Resources
See below for helpful links with additional information on our practice, our specialists, and our advanced diagnostic instruments.
Google Reviews
Read real 5-star experiences from families who trusted our doctors with their children's vision.
Dr. Ariel Cerenzie’s Bio
Learn about Dr. Cerenzie's fellowship distinction (FSLS) and pediatric myopia expertise.
Dr. Sydney Walsh’s Bio
Explore Dr. Walsh's education, residency training, and clinical interests.
Our Diagnostic Technology
Discover the Pentacam AXL Wave and Optovue Solix OCT that guide our precise treatments.
Matthews Pediatric Eye Care
Give Your Child the Gift of Clear, Protected Vision
Schedule a comprehensive 90-minute pediatric myopia evaluation at our Charlotte office. Meet one-on-one with Dr. Cerenzie or Dr. Walsh to determine the optimal care plan for your child.