Is it worth having LASIK laser eye surgery? Well, I think I have to say no it isn’t! Why? Simply because they don’t tell you just how long you might have to take off work – and how much that would cost.
I just had my 4 week check up and explained to the doctor that it’s still really hard for me to concentrate on a computer screen for more than a few minutes at a time or more than an hour or so per day. Guess what he said “Oh, that’s quite normal. It will probably take up to 3 months for you to be able to use a computer normally again. Just work through the headaches and eyestrain.”
Then he said not to be anywhere that’s dry. Upon telling him I had a 24 hour flight coming up he said “Hmmm, when you step off the plane you’ll regret ever having them done”. He was right. And I have another one coming up in two weeks! And now I have a load of funky gel to keep putting in my eyes.
It really is my own fault for not doing more research, I fell for all the ads where they show people who say they are seeing perfectly and back at work after just a couple of days. But if you have a look most of those people seem to be athletes and sports people – i.e. people who don’t have to look at a screen all day. I can see, I just can’t concentrate on one thing for long at all.
I’m quite lucky in that you’ve been all really understanding and I have been able to take the time off. But not so in that if I don’t work I don’t get paid! And my hour or so a day of PC work has been taken up with more mundane things such as taxes and admin stuff rather than all the funky new materials I wanted to bring you.
So I’d have to say if you use a computer a lot then really think about how much time off you may have to take with laser eye surgery. I know I probably wouldn’t have had it done had I known. But then again I haven’t seen the real benefits yet.
Good side
But looking on the good side it has made me realise that I need to make Genki English a lot less reliant on myself and more about you guys. So hopefully I’ll have some masters of the Genki English graphics available so you can make and share worksheets amongst yourselves.
How you can help!
And the biggest thing you could possibly do for me and each other would be to just keep spreading the word to other teachers, friends and students about the Genki English materials and the Genki English website. The current idea of members getting lots of new material for free also means I have to keep new customers coming and buying from the site. I don’t spend silly money on big adverts and it looks like I will have to rely on you guys to help Genki English keep growing in the coming months. I am so glad I can rely on you all – and I promise I’ll make it up to you once I’m 100% back to normal!
Hi Richard
I imagine you must be really irritated by this situation. We all know that normally you are working 110% and we get so much during the year. We all understand you must recover, however it was the same for me, no work = no money!! I didn’t work for four weeks and then returned about four weeks too early. Do take your time, I know it’s hard, but in the long term I am sure you will feel the benefit.
Making and sharing worksheets is something I am sure we can all do. It is just the way in which we do it, protecting copyright and linking it to the themes. I assume it’s quite a lot of work for you all the time, so maybe we have to find a different route to do this??
Take Care Richard and take as much time a you need. Please let me know if I can help in any way as I would be more than happy to.
Best wishes
I think you should take as long off as it takes to heal – I’m sure once it’s over better eye sight will make it all worth it! One of the best things about GE is that you have a lot of very talented people from all over the world involved in the forums and blog, all of whom can only benefit from GE’s growth. You know what they say – you get what you give, and considering the amount of support you give freely to teachers, I’m sure you can rely on the same back.
HI Richard!
I was very happy to see a blog entry this morning because it has been so long. I figured that things mustn’t be to good. I don’t know anyone who has had the surgery, but can you use something on the screen to counter the glare?
I’m sure all of us will do everything we can to help. I got my private school to buy the download pack for the other teacher that wants to pass a special certification to teach English with his elementary degree. He’s a 2nd grade teacher and is excited about GE. I’m still working on the junior high to find a way to use GE in the computer lab (we need headsets for listening) but they are very open to buying it. Don’t know how it works license wise….
ANyway, thanks for the update. Hope you will recover quickly…watch out for those planes!Too bad you can’t travel by rocket!
🙂
Well, I’ve been trying to do my small contribution at least in the city I’m working (Hanyu city – Saitama prefecture). Some schools had already bought some Genki English sets after my request and now the new person at the BoE fortunately gave in to our frequent recommendations and bought sets for all 11 elementary schools in Hanyu! Recently they also added volumes 9 and 10 and I wish you all the success you deserve for making our lives easier 🙂
Hello Richard,
I’m sorry to hear that the LASIK didn’t go the way you expected it. I once got offered to do it as well from my doctor and I refused (too scared :p) so i think now it was a good decision when I hear how much you are suffering. But I hope you will be better soon. Take your time until you are 100% ok again and don’t worry about us here. You have a great community of teachers behind you. I am new to the site and even though you couldn’t be here, I feel like part of a big family, because the members took me in right away and this is just amazing. So don’t worry about anything; you have everybody standing firm behind you and supporting you in whatever way they can. Me inclusive – if my little self counts :D.
Hugs
Sara
Hi Richard, if its any consolation you are not on your own regarding your disappointment with LASIK eye surgery. I can send you the address of a LASIK support group if you wish. You do need to give your eyes time to heal.
As for spreading the word about GE – I don’t visit the forum all that often and I know I can’t be of help with anything technical, but on a personal note I’d like to say that I subscribe to sites that don’t offer anywhere near the amount of products or support that being a member of GE provides through you and all its members. I pay up to 20 euro per year to access sites whose materials I use maybe 5 or 6 times a year and whose products are no where near as good as GE. I use GE EVERY DAY. So, I for one would be prepared to pay an annual subscription to GE if necessary. And of course I will continue to recommend it to anyone who will listen.
Hi Richard,
it is great to hear from you!
This must be so hard for you, scared about your eyesight, worried about your business, not being able to work though you’re full of ideas and things you want to do~and Great Britain covered with snow. I bet the white scenery doesn’t make it easy for your eyes either.
BUT, don’t hurry, don’t worry! We are all there. We are continuing to use GE day by day, and as you see by having enthusiastic new members: GE keeps growing.
I still believe that this situation will lead you and GE and everybody here to an even higher level.
It’s weird and a bit lonely to not hear from you regularly but it’s okay and I think everybody is really happy that you take your time out.
You’ve created this wonderful thread throughout the world and it is a treasure to be able to share thoughts about work and life with such beautiful people every day.
When you’re teaching kids, you’re always saying the good thing about GE is that after some input you can sit back and drink some water to get ready for the next while the kids are working. It’s not good and almost impossible if the teacher powers through all the lessons.
I think it’s the same with your company. Just sit back and relax while we are doing our things.
Take good care!
Hi Richard,
I’m sorry it’s taking you so long to recover. But I must say that when my boyfriend had LASIK laser eye surgery last summer, it only took him a week to recover. In fact, I remember he started using the computer the day after his operation, and not just for a few hours. He was a bit concerned about not being able to use the computer when he decided to had the surgery, but the doctors told him not to worry about it because he’d be able to use it in a few hours after the operation. As you can see, they were right.
Anyway, I don’t really think you should worry so much about being off work. Health is far more important that work and we can wait for you to recover.
Just make a list with all the long term advantages and disadvantages and you’ll see it was worth it. Imagine waking up in the morning and seeing everything clearly, diving and swimming in the sea without worrying about losing a contact lens, not wearing glasses in the hot summer, not worrying about buying more contact lenses or glasses, being able to stay anywhere at night without thinking “oh no, I should have brought my contact lenses case or my glasses”… Just think about the reasons why you decided to have your eyes lasered.
And remember, be always genki! :p
Mónica
Hi Richard,
I feel 100% the same as everyone here.
It’s sad for me not being able to get inspiration from you on the site everyday, but it doesn’t mean I stop teaching Genki English. In fact I will have the most number of English lessons ever at my school next month.
I will keep on telling others about Genki English while waiting for your full recovery.
I hope the funky gel will work!
Richard,
I’m sorry to hear about your slow recovery, but it was good to hear from you. I know we were all concerned about your silence on the web. Now that we know the reason and that you are slowly recovering, please do take more time to heal. Using the computer all day is not good for HEALTHY eyes so don’t feel rushed now.
I have been trying to get more and more teachers observe a GE class and that has made a huge difference! There are lots of interested teachers.
Take care,
Gumby
Sorry to hear about your eye situation!
Hope things get back to normal soon
I’m sorry to hear that you’re having so much trouble with your eyes after the LASIK. But a lot of people say that even though the recovery is long the benefits really are great once you recover completely. So have faith and let it take time!
I know it’s hard when you’ve got your business to think about as well (I’ve been in bed with the flu for a week with no money coming in…), but there’s always a solution and I think we’re all trying our very best to spread the word about the amazing GE material!
Take care!
sussie
Hello Richard, I want to let you know that I had lasik 6 years ago and up to today, Thanks God, my eyes are OK. At the beginning I had lots of problems,(dryness, blurred vision and depression) and it took me around 6 months until I had no problems. My Dr also explained me that my brain had to get adjusted to the new vision, especially if a person had more than -5. So be patience, and yes reduce the time of the computer and do sketches in the meantime (like in old good times!) and cheer up, sure you will soon see more beautifully your ideas!!!I Love your Genki ideas.
Sorry for your eyes Richard. I tried to give your website to the inspection website, but it’s still not mentioned. I’m sorry about that. I said there are really good ideas to teach english, but nothing has been done.
Get well