For many children, getting their first pair of eyeglasses is a routine experience. But for Uyen Ha, a third year student at the University of Houston College of Optometry, the journey to clear vision was life changing.
Growing up, Uyen struggled with nearsightedness but kept it a secret from her parents, who believed that wearing glasses would worsen her vision. Instead, she adapted by memorizing colors and shapes to recognize people and sitting at the front of the classroom to see the board. When Uyen reached middle school, she participated in a school vision screening program which was part of See to Succeed—it was then that she realized just how poor her eyesight had become.
“The optometrist who did my exam was surprised I didn’t already have glasses because my vision was so bad,” she recalled. That school vision screening marked a turning point in her life. She remembers the excitement of choosing her first pair of eyeglasses—metal frames with flowers on the side—and the amazement of seeing individual leaves on trees for the first time.
Through See to Succeed, Uyen received her first pair of glasses and had her first interaction with the University of Houston College of Optometry. Even after this breakthrough, she only wore her glasses at school, hesitant because of her parents' beliefs and her own self-consciousness. It wasn’t until high school, after a visit to an eye doctor, that she convinced her parents to let her switch to contact lenses. It would be several years later before Uyen would make optometry her career choice.
“I always thought optometry was an appealing profession, but I struggled with confidence when I was younger,” she said. “The idea of being in a dark room, staring into a stranger’s eye, scared me.”
For many children, getting their first pair of glasses is routine— it was a life-changing moment that shaped Uyen's future in eye care.
Her fear faded after working several part-time jobs during her first years in college. Inspired by the impact optometry had on her own life, she applied to the University of Houston College of Optometry and was accepted. Now, as a student, she has gained direct experience providing eye care in several different settings thanks to her clinical rotations in community clinics, pediatric services, and medical practices.
Her personal journey has given her a deep understanding of how untreated vision problems can impact a person’s quality of life. “Not having perfect vision hurts you in little ways,” she explained. “It can hurt your confidence. I remember looking down while walking in the hallways at school because I didn’t want to accidentally make eye contact with anyone. A big part of optometry is raising awareness because patients don’t always understand how much their vision can improve.”
She particularly values the hands-on, community-focused experience the University of Houston College of Optometry provides. “Being at the college, we provide care for so many patients who don’t have access to high-quality care otherwise. We see a lot of different pathologies, and we learn how to talk to patients, explain their conditions, and how we can help them.”
Her connection with Dr. Pat Segu, Clinical Professor of Optometry at the University of Houston, brought her journey full circle. “In my third-year clinic, I worked with Dr. Segu as my attending. We had a shift where we saw children who came by busses from local schools for eye exams. During my first year at the UH College of Optometry, she talked about See to Succeed, and I told her I had been in that program as a kid. And there I was, working alongside her to help those same kids.”
Dr. Segu, a clinical professor at the UH College of Optometry and founding medical director for the See to Succeed Program, has witnessed Uyen’s growth firsthand. “Uyen’s story is a perfect example of the power of optometry to change lives. It’s not just about vision correction; it’s about empowering people to live more confidently and fully. Watching Uyen evolve into such a compassionate and skilled future optometrist has been truly inspiring. Her experience is exactly what we aim for at the college—making a lasting difference in the community.”
As Uyen moves forward in her education, she continues to explore different aspects of optometry through her clinical rotations. “I’m still figuring out exactly where I’ll fit best,” she said. “But these experiences are helping me discover the areas that truly excite me.” Whatever direction she takes, Uyen is determined to use her experience to make a meaningful difference in the lives of her future patients.