I went to the eye doctor and told him I kept seeing spots.

This joke expertly plays on our expectations, using a classic comedic technique called misdirection (Review). When someone says they're "seeing spots" and visiting an eye doctor, our minds immediately jump to a medical issue – perhaps floaters, a migraine aura, or some other visual disturbance. It's a common phrase associated with needing professional help for your eyes.

However, the punchline cleverly redefines "spots" not as a medical symptom, but as literal stains on clothing. We've all looked at a pile of dirty laundry and noticed the various marks and smudges that accumulate. The humor arises from the sudden, mundane, and utterly non-medical explanation for what seemed to be a serious health concern, turning a trip to the doctor into a domestic observation.

It's a relatable scenario where the problem isn't with your vision, but with your chore list, providing a chuckle at the everyday absurdity of misinterpreting common phrases in the most literal way possible.