Pediatric eye health: An ophthalmic technician’s journey from hotel management to helping kids see

Healthy vision is vital for children to learn, play, and grow. At the Robert Cizik Eye Clinic at UTHealth Houston, children receive expert care from a team of eye care professionals committed to protecting the health and safety of their pediatric patients’ eyes and giving their parents peace of mind. Among them is Danny Seibert, a certified ophthalmic technician (COT) whose path to pediatrics began with an unexpected career change.

A career change with lasting impact

“Like so many during COVID, I decided to change careers because of the instability in my previous industry,” Seibert said.

He had a 23-year career in hotel management before the pandemic disrupted his profession. Looking for stability and meaning, he researched various career paths and landed on the decision to enroll in the two-year eye care technology program at San Jacinto College. He decided to get his COT certification because it covers a more comprehensive assortment of skills to assist physicians in caring for patients.

“I chose to work for UTHealth Houston, specifically, because it is part of a large hospital network with a devoted pediatric eye clinic, which is the area of ophthalmology that interests me the most,” he said.

A typical day and what makes it great

Most of Seibert’s work is in the pediatric clinic, supporting two pediatric ophthalmologists. His days begin with opening and restocking the exam rooms and reviewing the patient schedule to familiarize himself with any special or unusual cases for the day. Once the clinic begins humming, he and his colleagues rotate patient workups, assist with procedures and the more difficult exams, and ensure patients and their families feel comfortable.

“The part of my job I enjoy most is when one of ‘our’ kids comes in and remembers me from their last visit and has something positive to say,” Seibert said. “That always makes for a great day!”

Milestones for children’s vision screenings

Seibert says that while most patients who come to the pediatric eye clinic have medical conditions that affect their vision and overall eye health, routine eye screenings usually start with a child’s pediatrician at their annual wellness checks. He adds that a handy rule of thumb to help parents remember to schedule their child’s annual eye exam is to time it right before their child starts school each year or near their birthday.

“A child should at least have a comprehensive eye exam by the time they start kindergarten, since they will soon be expected to concentrate on the front of the classroom and other distance focal points that they may not have experienced previously,” Seibert said. “Also, once a teen is showing interest in driving, a complete eye health exam should be considered, especially if it has been a while.”

What to watch out for

Children are great at adapting and accommodating and often may not even be aware they’re not seeing correctly, Seibert said, so a routine vision screening is usually the first time parents become aware their child has a problem with their eyes.

If a child is squinting, straining, excessively blinking or rubbing their eyes, or complaining that it’s hard to see or read, Seibert says it’s a good idea to schedule a complete eye exam. While the most common conditions like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and allergic conjunctivitis are what they most routinely see, he says symptoms like extreme light sensitivity, double vision, or colors being “off” may be a sign of a more serious condition, so those circumstances warrant a greater sense of urgency.

“We also see a large number of patients whose parents are concerned with eye misalignment, drifting, or crossing,” he said. “In these cases, the sooner a child is seen by a pediatric ophthalmologist, the more options are available for treatment and/or correction.”

Safety tips and general eye care

Beyond exams and conditions, Seibert offered tips on eye safety and general eye care. He said protective eyewear or even a pair of sunglasses can prevent a potentially vision-threatening injury when playing with any sort of toy that can become a projectile, snap back on a child, or have sharp edges. Other simple steps he recommends for preserving eyesight include limiting screen time, encouraging outdoor play, and reminding kids who wear contacts not to sleep or swim in them.

Seibert also wanted to clear up the misconception that prescription glasses will make a child’s vision worse. He said it’s a myth that children become dependent on glasses, and that if an eye doctor recommends a child should wear glasses, parents shouldn’t hesitate to fill the prescription.

“The only thing that will happen when they start wearing glasses,” he said, “is that they will be able to better see the world around them.”

Finding meaning in pediatrics

Seibert considers working in pediatrics to be one of the most rewarding areas of health care and says the impact is immediately felt and appreciated by patients and their families.

“It is exciting to see a child thrive when their vision has been improved,” he said. “While not all cases are successes, families always seem to be appreciative that we give them and their children the best care and support possible.”

Every day brings purpose and a reason to stay

When asked what he finds most fulfilling about his work at UTHealth Houston and what keeps him motivated to stay, Seibert says the fact that no two days are the same brings many opportunities and creates an environment that is engaging. This variety gives him the chance to do many different things.

“In pediatrics, we see the full gamut of patient cases: post-trauma hospital follow-ups, little ones with congenital conditions, neurological and developmental deficiencies, eye muscle imbalances, and, of course, just routine eye health exams for glasses,” he said. “Then I can be asked to switch gears and work with senior patients with cataracts, glaucoma, or other long-term ocular conditions.”

A culture of collaboration and growth

While many of the technicians may have regular assignments, they are often called on to fill in at another area of the clinic and work with doctors who have a different subspecialty. This requires them to have a broad knowledge of nearly all aspects of ophthalmology and allows them to maintain and continually develop a broad range of skills. This breadth of experience supports Siebert’s professional growth, and he appreciates that it comes from a truly collaborative environment.

“As a teaching institution, the Cizik Eye Clinic gives residents and fellows an opportunity to work closely with the physicians to increase their skills, and new technicians are paired with senior techs for evaluation and mentoring,” he said. “Not many ophthalmic technicians have worked in pediatrics, so when I introduce them to how different that environment can be compared to other areas involving older patients, it helps me brush up on what I need to know and should be doing when working for my usual doctors. The reverse is also true when I’m floated to another area in which I don’t usually work. The other technicians are always quick to answer my questions to ensure I have everything I need to get the patients ready to see their doctors.”

This variety, teamwork, and professional growth keep Seibert motivated. His enthusiasm for the job makes it clear that each day brings meaningful work and the opportunity to make a lasting difference. It’s no wonder, then, that he and others envision building lifelong careers with UTHealth Houston. It’s the kind of work and culture that makes employees want to stay.