Query after cataract surgery

First don't panic. You will be able to manage with reading glasses very well. Near vision isn't terrific without them. Cheap reading glasses are widely available in every prescription. The surgeon told me roughly the magnification I'd need and the ones I got from Amazon tided me over until I got proper nice ones from the optician.
You'll get used to them. I still feel for my old glasses when I wake up but them remember I don't need them any more.

I've recently had both eyes done.
Pre cataract op I could read close up easily by taking my distance glasses off. I have two different lenses put in, one for distance and one for close up.
I'm really pleased with the outcome as I only need the distance glasses for driving n watching TV and reading glasses for reading for a length of time.
I find the middle distance a bit difficult though and wish I'd got glasses for the computer as well.

There are online firms that supply glasses very cheaply if one gives them the prescription (eg it was possible the last I knew to get ones for only around £15). One does need to provide a measurement reading to them (think it's "pupillary distance" ??). So make sure you get that when the optician gives you the one pair of glasses I've read your comment as meaning is all the NHS provides.

I "think" Glasses Direct is the name of the firm I've used myself before now (ie because I couldnt find modern enough looking ones in the local opticians here and similar styles to what I got didn't turn up here until about 2 years later). Hence why I went online for mine.

I have had both eyes done in the last three months and have been really pleased with the outcome. Having worn varifocals for nearly thirty years I no longer need glasses for anything; I can see to drive, normal day activities and most reading. I was concerned before the replacement about reading as I do a great deal , mainly on kindle and ipad. I was pleasantly surprised to find I can read most things easily, except for quite small print. I invested in a few cheap pairs of reading glasses which help with any small print. In a couple of weeks I shall see my optician to get some prescription reading specs. The most noticeable thing with having new eyes is the clearness and fantastic colours of everything. The only downside is that I have had to clean the house from top to bottom as I now can see all the dust and cobwebs! Good luck!

I've just had a quick look and it's www.glassesdirect.co.uk and I promptly saw there are glasses available there for only £9 (that's still £9 of one's own money being spent - because of NHS - but that's pretty darn cheap).

3 pairs for £7 on Amazon. Makes you wonder about the profits made on glasses!

Two stories from me. A very good friend who was very short sighted found that after her cataract ops, he sight was much better than before. As for me, I wear varifocals all the time with plain glass in the top bit. I have a problem though with my varifocal sunglasses as they make me dizzy so I just use an ordinary wrap around polarised pair for any sunny days.

After not needing glasses following surgery I do now need a small distance prescription. I don't have varifocals, but need a separate middle distance pair for computer work, which didn't cost much.
I would never order on-line (whatever happened to 'buy cheap, buy twice?') because I have a wonky face and need to make sure they fit properly.

keepingquiet

After not needing glasses following surgery I do now need a small distance prescription. I don't have varifocals, but need a separate middle distance pair for computer work, which didn't cost much.
I would never order on-line (whatever happened to 'buy cheap, buy twice?') because I have a wonky face and need to make sure they fit properly.

There's going to be variation in online firms - but maybe a bit of wonkiness would have come from not knowing that measurement they ask for - at which point they do a more approximate measurement. I knew what my measurement was and figured my own personal "worst case analysis" would have involved going all the way back to my home city - where there would be a more modern choice of frames available than I could find here (cue train fares/hotel costs/etc - as it's about 5 hours away and that's by car). So it was worth taking the risk - rather than having what would have turned out to be very expensive glasses.

I had noticed clothes tastes here are somewhat different to my home city - but I've got a good selection of clothes anyway and there's always John Lewis and Marks & Spencers one can buy clothes by post from to match the taste of your own area if you're not actually in it any longer. So it was well worth taking the risk of sending by post imo for glasses in my own style and they're my "main" glasses and I've had various compliments on them and they're fine.

Only reason I'm not planning on doing it again is I have now discovered an optician with more modern stock in a nearby town and looks like the lenses are more modern in their make-up than the norm.

I've not had a problem with getting minor adjustments made to any of my glasses by the two "chain" opticians here. I've gone in prepared to pay a small fee if required for those adjustments to be made - but there was no charge.

Why don't you move back to your
'home city' as everything is plainly so.much better than where you are now. You mention this so often on various threads that you're obviously home sick for the place.

Aveline

Why don't you move back to your
'home city' as everything is plainly so.much better than where you are now. You mention this so often on various threads that you're obviously home sick for the place.

If that's a genuine query - I'm single and always have been. Translation = a lot worse off than someone in a couple. That's why I moved in the first place - ie because I couldn't afford the "forever home" in that location for rest of my life and was still in 1. grotty 2. starter 3. house (ie with stairs and without garden) 4. in an area that was going down.

£270,000 for my detached/garden/reasonable area house does not translate into = £400,000 for "same again" back there.

So you'll just have to make the best of it where you are and stop denigrating it.

So it wasn't a genuine query ....! Slap head smilie - as I answered as if it was....

I wore glasses from the age of 7, I was very short sighted and hey were those horrible thick lenses in those days. I struggles with contact lenses in my teens, and sometimes just went without altogether blind as a bat. If I met a boy at a dance and arranged to meet him the next night I never knew what he looked like and just hoped he would recognise me. I didn't know what my future husband looked like for 3 months when I actually admitted to wearing glasses. I know it all sounds ridiculous now. But at the age of 55 I had cataracts in both eyes and had the ops. It was the best thing ever for me, I could see without my glasses for the first time in my life, ok I need reading glasses but that was no big deal, I soon got used to it. I am 77 now and still marvel at being able to see without my glasses. So do not worry about the op or afterwards, it will be a new lease of life.