In the UK I used an independent optician, lovely people. I bought reading and long distance glasses from them, then changed to varifocals which like many have said, caused nausea. I just couldn't change from one view to the other without the world going crazy.
Over here in Spain we use Specsavers (yep they like carphone warehouse get everywhere!) my first eyetest they wanted to know why I wanted specs for long distance, 'there really is nothing too much to worry about' I mentioned that when I was driving I can see road signs half a kilometre away but the wording on them was blurred until I got much closer - usually too close to act on the information given. But with the glasses I had there was no problem.
So they were happy to give me them and a second pair for reading which I did need. Interesting that their orders are sent to the UK for dispensing and are returned back to Spain within 10 days - similar turnaround to buying in the UK.