This Has Become A Real Spec-tacle

My mom is excited to finally see her old optician again after years. She gets an appointment, picks out some nice frames, and everything seems smooth… until it isn’t.

Mom: *Trying on her new glasses at pickup.* “Hmm… something’s off. I can’t see right.”

Tech Lady: “Oh, that’s normal. They’re new. You’ll be fine. Give yourself a couple of days to adjust. Progressives take time.”

Mom: “I’ve had progressives before. These feel… wrong.”

Tech Lady: *Smiling.* “Just wear them for a few days.”

Three days later, my mom has splitting headaches and can barely read her phone. She goes back, wearing her old glasses.

Mom: “These aren’t right. I want them checked again.”

Front Desk Lady: “Well, the prescription matches what’s on file. It says right here.”

Mom: “But I can’t see.”

Front Desk Lady: “You can reschedule for another exam, but it wouldn’t be covered; you’d have to pay out of pocket.”

Mom: “I’m not paying extra because your doctor got it wrong.”

The arguing escalates until another optician overhears and comes out of his office.

Second Optician: *Calmly.* “Tell you what, let me re-examine you. No charge. Let’s just get this sorted.”

He sits her down, runs the exam, then compares her old lenses with the new prescription.

Second Optician: *Frowning.* “…Ah. I see the problem. The last doctor transposed the numbers. Mixed up your left and right eyes.”

Mom: “So my whole world’s been backwards for a week?”

Second Optician: “Basically.”

They redo the lenses free of charge, but the whole ordeal drags out for six weeks before she finally has working glasses. By then, she’s had enough.

Mom: *Handing back the final pair, saying as she leaves.* “Glad I can see again. Just won’t be seeing you people ever again.”