I got yelled at by a parent whose teenager broke his frame for the third time this year. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the frame in stock and would have to order it. I was thrashed and berated for not having the frame, and was told that I should keep “a few extra around here since you know my son breaks his glasses.” Yes, I know that. Especially since he just got the new frame off my board … four hours ago. — Elizabeth Reid, Vision Associates, Hayes, VA

A LOST IN TRANSLATION story: A Spanish speaking patient and I were doing quite well getting through the exam despite not speaking each other’s language fluently. I tugged my right ear, saying look at my ear for my slit lamp work. She promptly reached over, figuring she was performing as told, and stuck her finger in my ear! Lost in translation I guess. — Brian Parker, OD, Temecula Eye Center, Temecula, CA

YEARS AGO, when I worked at a commercial practice, I was refracting a patient. I was standing to her right and spinning the dials when I looked down and noticed a cockroach sitting on her shoulder. Without a pause, I moved the near point rod down and gently placed my hand on her shoulder, at the same time flicking the roach onto the wall behind her. I completed the exam and the patient didn’t have a clue as to what transpired. — Mark Perry, OD, Vision Health Institute, Orlando, FL