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Dr. Charles “Chuck” Knudson brings more than 2 decades of experience as a caring family eye doctor and a leader who has helped eye care practices in Memphis, Denver, and Charlotte to grow and provide better vision care for their patients. Dr. Knudson believes in continuing education and continuous improvement to deliver the highest quality vision care possible. He is a member of several professional eye care associations, focused on learning and practice improvement.

Dr. Knudson graduated from Southern College of Optometry in 1991. He became a partner/owner of the Optometry Group in Memphis, TN and practiced there for 7 years. In 1998, after marrying his wife Leigh, they moved to Denver, CO where he became the President and CEO of Vision Care Specialists, Inc. – an optometry/ophthalmology practice with 14 doctors and multiple locations. In 2006, Dr. Knudson and his family decided to move to Charlotte, NC to enjoy raising their three children and he joined EyeOptix Vision and Laser Centers. In December, 2007, Dr. Knudson helped EyeOptix open their Ballantyne and Uptown offices. In 2011, Dr. Knudson offered to buy the Ballantyne location from EyeOptix so that he could provide more focus and care for the patients he had come to know in Ballantyne and the surrounding areas. August 2011 brought that exciting possibility to a reality.

Dr. Knudson is the North Carolina State Executive for a practice improvement group called OD Excellence. OD Excellence was founded by leading Optometrists with the goal of helping OD’s improve the quality of patient care, reinforce clinical skills and, through education, improving an OD’s ability to diagnose and provide the latest in ocular disease treatment.

Dr. Knudson says, “I love our profession. It is ever-changing for the betterment of our patients. We embrace those changes and will always introduce them to you when you see us for your eye care. As much as I love our profession, I cherish the relationships we have built over the years. We look forward to seeing you each time you come in. Thank you for allowing us the privilege to care for you.”

Clinical Research Instructor

• Alcon, Clinical Investigator
• Allergan, Clinical Investigator
• Bausch & Lomb, Clinical Investigator
• CIBA Vision, Educational Lecturer
• SynergEyes, Clinical Investigator
• Associate Clinical Professor, Southern College of Optometry
• Examiner, National Board of Optometry

Associations and Involvement

• American Optometric Association
• North Carolina State Optometric Society
• American Society of Eye Care Specialists
• Past President, West Tennessee Optometric Society
• Past Chair, TOA Assistance to Graduates and Undergraduates Committee
• Past Member, TOA Managed Care Committee

Dr. Emily Howard was inspired to pursue a career in optometry through her firsthand experience with visual needs and ocular disease effects within her family and friends. Dr. Howard is a dependable and enthusiastic optometrist who aims to provide all patients with the utmost care while curating an inclusive and friendly environment.

Dr. Howard was born and raised in Columbia, SC, and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Exercise and Sport Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She received her Doctor of Optometry at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. During her time in optometry school, she gained experience in numerous optometric specialties, including myopia control, vision therapy, specialty contact lenses, and ocular disease. While Dr. Howard was a dedicated clinician in optometry school, she also held numerous leadership positions and actively participated in community vision screenings.

In her free time, Dr. Howard enjoys cheering on the Tar Heels and the Gamecocks, working out, traveling, and spending time with family.

Associations and Involvement

• American Optometric Association
• North Carolina State Optometric Society
• National Optometric Association
• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Dr. Erin Lutley knew from a young age she wanted to work in the medical field, and optometry was the perfect fit as it allows her to care for and develop close relationships with patients of all ages. No two eyes are the same, and she takes pride in providing individualized plans for her patients to maintain both clear vision and healthy eyes. Her favorite part of being an optometrist is seeing the joy on her patients’ faces when they put their glasses or contacts on for the first time. She finds it extremely rewarding to know she can have such a positive impact on her patients’ lives by providing them with better vision.

Dr. Lutley grew up in New York and attended St. John’s University in NYC where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. She then went on to receive her Doctor of Optometry from the State University of New York College of Optometry in 2020. In addition to her studies, she enjoyed volunteering by providing eye care at many vision screenings. Her favorite event each year was providing eye exams and glasses for young athletes at the Special Olympics.

She continued her specialty training through a residency at WJB Dorn Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Columbia, SC, which focused on ocular disease and primary eye care. She greatly enjoyed her time there learning and providing eye care to our nation’s veterans.

Dr. Lutley is passionate about managing ocular diseases such as diabetes, glaucoma, and macular degeneration, as well as treating binocular vision disorders and TBI-related eye conditions. Through her extensive training, she is confident she can diagnose, treat, and care for any variety of optometric care, whether simple or complex. In her time away from the office, Dr. Lutley enjoys spending time with her family and friends, volunteering, and exploring the great outdoors, especially hiking with her rescue dog Lucy.

Associations and Involvement

• American Academy of Optometry
• North Carolina State Optometric Society
• South Carolina Optometric Physicians Association