Newbie has Q re: contact in just one eye

Greetings all!

I am a 53 yr old male, who has an iol in his left eye due to cataract surgery 15 yrs ago. The only time in my life I have worn a contact lens was for a few months prior to my cataract surgery, when I wore one contact in my 'bad' eye (because the cataract had mangled the focus in that eye). After surgery, the left eye was perfect for distance, though of course it didn't accommodate to see close up. So, after that point, I wore glasses for reading and computer work. For the record, prescription glasses I have gotten for reading have basically never worked well for me as well as simple +1.75 readers I get at Costco. I don't know why this is because I will openly admit that I do not have the slightest idea how optics prescriptions work.

My right eye is now in need of correction. I think it focuses too far. When I look at mountains in the distance, or leaves on tree in mid-distance, or the TV 8' away, the image is fuzzy in the right eye. I think it used to have a small astigmatism as well, but I am not sure it does or how bad that astigmatism is. The reason I think the problem is more about focus than astigmatism is that I have some +1 readers that make the vision in my right eye crystal clear for TV (8' away) and all distances. I think if it were an astigmatism, I wouldn't achieve such clarity with plain readers...but as I said...not too confident about my guesswork in this area.

I am wondering if I can get a contact lens just for my right eye, so that that eye matches the right eye, so that I can more effectively use regular readers for close work (e.g., +1.75 for computer work, +2.75 for very close work, etc.). When I try to read nowadays with a pair of readers, there is no distance I can hold a book away from my face such that both eyes can see the text clearly...if it is just right for one eye, it is always too close or too far for the other eye.

I am wondering if there is something complicated here pertaining to the relationship between focus and magnification. I am wondering if wearing a contact lens in my right eye to adjust the focus will necessary adjust the image size in that eye, such that my brain will not be able to comfortably resolve the images it is getting from both eyes.

I will be going to my optometrist soon, but I want to load up with as much info and opinion before that time so my discussions with my optometrist will be more constructive.

Thanks!

Otherchuck