Who's Who 2012 - Cherie Harris

Cherie Harris is the only advanced certified contact lens technician in Missouri. "I love learning about contact lenses," she says. "I attend workshops every chance I get to stay at the top of the field." At Leet EyeCare in Cape Girardeau, Harris fits patients in contact lenses for medical or cosmetic reasons. At home, she's mom to two sons, Josh and Justin, and Sissy, a "spoiled rotten" Yorkie. While balancing work and family, she also makes time to give back to her community and her world. She is a member LaCroix Church, the Career and Technology Center Advisory Board, the Jackson Chamber of Commerce and the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce. She is also on the eyecare team of the Jamaican Christian Medical Mission.

__What do you love about your work?__

I love that we are a Christian-based medical office and even though we are growing we still maintain a personable atmosphere.

__How is your career field growing/changing?__

Contact lenses are being used for more than simple vision correction. Specialty contact lenses for medical and cosmetic reasons have become mainstream in our practice. There are new materials, designs and modalities that I must stay abreast of as a contact lens professional.

__What inspires you?__

There is nothing that matches the experience of giving sight to someone with vision problems. Fitting a patient in contact lenses for medical or cosmetic reasons and seeing the joy on their face when they can see is very inspiring.