This thread has been interesting for me. I currently have long distance vision in my left eye, following a cataract operation about 10 years ago, and very short distance vision in my right eye. The right eye has been deteriorating rapidly and I now have a date for a cataract operation on my right eye (end of the month).
When I had my left cataract removed, the medical staff discussed the new lens with me and recommended the long distance lens, saying that I might be able to get on without spectacles after the operation on account of being able to see at all distances with either one eye or the other. At the time, I found this caused too much strain and my optician recommended varifocals (with the 30 day change-your-mind option).
I tried the varifocals and couldn't get on with them at all, really struggling to get anything properly in focus and using a computer screen was almost impossible - I struggled to get a whole long word in focus and was having to move my head left to right to read a line. After reading this thread, I am now wondering if the lenses weren't aligned properly. Anyway, I persevered for about a week and a half before going back to the opticians (Boots) and they weren't happy, telling me that I hadn't given it long enough to get used to them - the truth is that I couldn't work with them on and resorted taking them off for computer work. They also tried to tell me that I couldn't change my mind and if I wanted replacement glasses, I would have to pay again. After some "discussion" they agreed to swap the glasses for bifocals for reading/distance and single vision glasses for computer work (I can't remember if there was any redress for the new cost against the varifocal cost).
Now that I've got a date for getting my right cataract removed, I realised that I never had the discussion at the pre-op examination/consultation about the lens they will put in my eye and so I don't know what my vision will be like after the op. I'm expecting that I will get long distance and I'm hoping that it'll be something similar to the vision I have in my left eye.
If this is the case, I have been considering trying half-moon single vision glasses (hopefully cheapo off-the-shelf "reading glasses"), one pair for reading, the other pair for computer work/reading the Garmin on the handlebar - this would enable me to see the road when on the bike and see other people in the office when I look up from my screen.
That's the idea anyway, I'll have to wait and see how things go.
