Expensive glasses

Steve 從我的座椅拾起一小支東西，看了一会，我才知道是我載着的眼鏡近耳後鏡框部份段了一小節。Steve 说他的保險有包括眼鏡科，有某部份费用由保險行涵蓋，我想既然是这样，就去換一副眼鏡框吧！我们还须要打电预约，被安排在一星期后。去到该眼鏡科，就如去見医生般，須填一些关于健康的资料，然后有关医生给我检验眼睛，她说我的眼睛度数与配的眼鏡接近。過后我告诉负责眼鏡员说要換鏡框，她帶我去选鏡框，听她讲解，似乎必须全換新。我看中一副，她就问要怎样的鏡及效果的，我答了之后，她算出所有的驗眼和眼鏡价扣除保險行应付的后，共价 US$428！Steve 交上信用卡，我有点驚嚇向他睁大眼睛示意，但他没意会。走出该店，我们去用餐，我就开始不断讲述那价钱太贵，我在槟城做眼鏡，检验是免费的，若一副眼鏡 RM428 已是很贵！反正我还能載着没有很大障礙的这副眼鏡，我宁愿等回去槟城时再換吧！我们又倒回去取消做眼鏡，付上检验价 US$39。

其实曾阅读某马來西亞人的文章讲述欧洲或西方国家的眼鏡很贵（我的朋友 MX 也告诉过我），勸告要到那里的人最好在 Malaysia 準備…但我並不知多贵，現在算我自己真的領教了。

也许有其他便宜的眼鏡行在美国，但我们还不知道。

Steve picked up a little piece of something on my seat and handed it to me; I looked at it a little while and realized the frame of the glasses I was wearing broke near the earpiece. Steve said his insurance has an allowance for part of the optical fee. Since we have this, I thought to change the frames! We needed to call the optometrist and get an appointment the next week. We went in to see the doctor, and we needed to fill out a form with some health details. Then the doctor performed a routine eye examination, she told me my eye prescription was similar to my existing glasses. After that, I talked to a salesperson about changing my frames. She pointed out the selection of frames and it sounded like she meant they only could make new glasses. I chose a frame, and then she started to ask what types of lenses. I replied and she made an order. After all of the charges were listed, the total after the insurance allowances was US$428! Steve handed her his credit card. I felt shocked and opened my eyes as big as I could to Steve, but he didn’t know what I meant. After that, we went out to a restaurant for dinner and I started talking about the price being too high. If my glasses were made in Penang and cost RM428, I would say they were expensive. And the routine eye examination in Penang was free! I still feel okay wearing my glasses, and I think I will change them while I’m back in Penang! So, we went back to the optometrist to cancel the order and only paid the examination fees of US$39.

In fact, I read an article written by a Malaysian and my friend MX also advised that those who wear glasses should prepare while still in Malaysia if going to Europe and Western countries, because they are expensive… Before, I didn’t realize how expensive they are but I am much obliged now.

Maybe some places in the US are cheaper, but we haven’t found them yet.