Sore Eyes (Dexter's Laboratory)

"Sore Eyes" is the third part of the 7th episode in season 4 of Dexter's Laboratory, which first aired May 30, 2003.

Plot
Dexter is tired of wearing glasses, so he gives himself laser eye surgery to improve his eyesight and vision. However, the result goes too far.

Why It’s an Eyesore

 * 1) This episode can easily frighten younger children and those who suffer from mysophobia (fear of germs), as Dexter sees his family as deformed mutants/monsters.
 * 2) Utterly horrifying and gross title card, as it features an actual close-up of an eyeball.
 * 3) *What's worse is that the creators use stock images for a title card, rather than drawing it from scratch.
 * 4) After Dexter pushes the glasses a few times because it's constantly slipping down on his nose, he staples his glasses using a large stapler to the sides of his head, which is disturbing. But at least it's offscreen and you don’t get to see the aftermath.
 * 5) Dexter's self-surgery is highly disturbing and nonsensical as he does it by pointing a pair of sharp objects uncomfortably close to his eyes and presumably firing actual lasers into them, causing Dexter to let out a gut-wrenching scream of agony.
 * 6) * Instead of having to perform laser eye surgery, Dexter could have either gotten it done by a professional doctor or bought contacts.
 * 7) The raspberries that the family blow are very irritating and will get on your last nerves.
 * 8) The premise makes it feel like more of a Dexter's Laboratory creepypasta than an actual and canon episode.
 * 9) The mutated designs of Dexter's family are absolutely horrendous, almost like creatures from your nightmares.
 * 10) Way too much disturbing imagery and close-up gross-out humor that is overly detailed and nauseating.
 * 11) The voice acting is obnoxious and unsettling to hear.
 * 12) There are many animation errors; a notable example is where Dexter's bed cover is seen with half-moons and stars when Dexter turns off the light, yet when he sleeps and awakens the next morning, his cover is now a solid lime green color.
 * 13) They got a writer from Ren & Stimpy "Adult Party Cartoon" to be the art director for this episode, which explains the disgusting and disturbing nature of it.
 * 14) Bad ending where Dexter discovers that he, unlike everybody and everything else around him, is not ugly and decides that "all is good in the world" because of this, and the episode ends there with Dexter’s legs as tentacles.

Redeeming Qualities

 * 1) The concept of having improved vision and seeing horrifying results is kinda interesting, but this is executed horribly. The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy executed the concept better in "My Peeps" from its second season.
 * 2) Dexter’s vision of his room is beautiful. We even get a cameo of Mh:besttvshows:Samurai Jack as a figurine.

Trivia

 * Bill Wray, known for being a background artist in The Ren & Stimpy Show, wrote this episode.

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