David Bryson: August 2007 Archives

Having recently had cataract operations on both eyes this has led a number of losses and gains. This is from the perspective of someone who has worn glasses since the age of 5 except for a 17 year period wearing soft contact lenses soon after they first cames out.

On the plus side I don't have to wear glasses anymore (Big cheer) except for reading, and yes I can see one of everything rather than multiple versions of text and objects (This made watching snooker especially odd!). The cost of glasses is less my normal glasses cost upwards of £300 plus reading glasses £250! Now two reading pairs with new frames £200 a massive difference.

On the negative side I have lost my close-up vision, for someone who was very shortsighted (-10 and -11 dioptres for those in the know e.g. free eye test territory!) this is useful without glasses is like using a hand lens threading needles was always a doddle. This is probably also where my interest in close-up photography came from as in many ways it is this ability to see what the naked eye can't normally see that has always fascinated me. Whether it is the structure of a moth's eye (see photograph to left) or poppy seeds (see earlier post) whenever you examine something that close there is always something new and unexpected to be found.

Oh by the way my next purchase is in optics is going to be a hand lens.