Recently, Sweet Tasha gave me the opportunity to investigate the quality of optometrists available here in Mazatlan. I went to Dr. Luis Ramon Ramirez at Galeria Optical located at 1664-A Camaron Sabalo, next door to Supermarket La Isla (GPS: 23 14.876N 106 27.253W) . I chose Dr. Luis primarily because he speaks English. Since this was a medical exam, I felt it pretty important that we understand each other.

When we walked in, we were greeted by the office manager. She asked how she could help us and I told her I needed an eye exam and glasses. She asked to see mine, and I showed her. To my surprise, she said I was the second “dog ate my glasses” that day. The doctor wasn't in, but she called him immediately. We realized we came in in the middle of the regular lunch/rest break and felt bad. One of these days we will get used to it and remember. Dr. Luis came back to his office to meet us immediately. I hope he got to at least finish lunch.

I was driven to go there out of desperation, but it turned out to be the best eye exam I have ever received. Dr. Luis took his time and talked with me about my eyes. He actually took out a light and spent a couple of minutes looking into and examining each eye, instead of depending on a machine to tell him everything. He was patient and gave me plenty of time to decide which was better, one or two.

He discussed my prescription with me and let me know how much and how it had changed since I got my glasses, at least in the right eye. He had no idea what the prescription was for my left eye, since that lens is in about 148 pieces, thank-you Tasha.

I chose a great pair of designer frames, something that would have been cost prohibitive in Fort Worth. And then, since the first frames were so reasonable and they looked so great on me, I ordered my first pair of prescription sunglasses ever. I ended up spending more than I really wanted, but they look really groovy.

I arrived the next day to pick up my glasses, and only my sunglasses were ready. It seems the designer frames I ordered are so cutting-edge stupendous that cutting the lenses are a bit tricky. The lens material has to be frozen, then cut, then frozen, then cut, and it was taking a little longer than the normal pair of glasses. The office manage promised I would have them the next day. She made arrangements to drive by the lab on her way into work so I could have them first thing in the morning. OK.

We showed up the next day. No glasses. A little gal named Emilia had blown into town over night and consequently the lab had no power. Next day, she promised.

Finally, Thursday, we showed up and the glasses were ready. It was totally worth it. They are great. I look great in them. And the lab cut an extra pair of lenses for templates, then wrote all the critical dimensions and specifications on them and included them with the glasses. I was confused, but the office manager explained to me they did that because the lenses are very unusual, and if I ever broke one (or Tasha found them again), I could easily have another lens made. Pretty cool.

I can see so much better than I could before. Startlingly so. In fact, it was a little disorienting for a day. If you wear them, you may remember the first time you got glasses. You put them on and the whole world seems skewed and weird. That's how I felt. The edges on everything are so crisp. I had no idea I couldn't see well, but I do now. When we got back to the house, I compared the prescription Dr. Luis wrote with my existing prescription I got from my optometrist in Fort Worth six months ago, and they are different. Significantly. Tasha eating my glasses turned out to be a boon. Good dog.

The total cost for this little escapade breaks down like this:

• Really great eye exam: $250 pesos ($23.21 US)
• Cutting-edge stupendous frames and lenses: $1,140 pesos ( $105.85 US)
• Really groovy, feel like a movie star sunglasses and lenses: $1,575 pesos ($146.24 US)
• 5% discount for paying with cash $148.25 pesos ($13.77 US)
• Total: $2816.75 pesos ($261.54US)