At least once a day, I still feel a surge of both gratitude and satisfaction about it. I have a good vision again, after 20 years.
I don’t have to reach for my prescription glasses anymore. It is easier to only worry about one type of glasses - sunglasses - and I started to become fond of them. They do make my outdoor runs more comfortable. I can wear regular swimming goggles now!
It’s liberation. I wish I had done it ten years earlier. “Everyone says that. ” It’s easy to confirm on Twitter and Reddit that many people claimed having laser eye surgery was the best decision of their lives in recent years.
Of course, every surgery comes with risks. I won’t get into Lasik, its alternatives, the risks involved, and whether it has a high chance of success. I can only speak about my own experiences. After wearing prescription glasses from 15 to 38, I can now enjoy the feeling I had at 15 and earlier. It’s rejuvenating!
Like many good things, they don’t come easy or immediate. I had to want it consistently and work around my essential work and race events. My simple motivation was to enjoy my triathlon training and to perform better at races. I had to wait till after swimming in the Oceanman race in September. On Oct 14, 2023, I posted on the EO Social group asking for recommendations to treat near-sightedness and astigmatism. With recommendations from friends pouring in, I could no longer procrastinate. The uncertainty in the initial phase was distracting. There are old and new tech to learn about, from Lasik to Smile to ICL. Eyecare is a profitable business, and it was easy to be overwhelmed by all the marketing materials. I ended up going with a reputable doctor at the American Eye Center. A few days after returning from Ironman 70.3 Phu Quoc, I underwent eye surgery on November 23, 2023.
It may be interesting to note that I have a few free doctor check-ups post-surgery to ensure good recovery: one day after, one week after, one month after, three months after, and one year after. It’s been almost five months, and I’m happy as a clam. I’m looking forward to racing on my TT bike in Danang next month with better posture, thanks to not wearing prescription glasses. Another benefit is that bike sunglasses will protect my eyes better from dust. Phu Quoc’s wind was brutal, sending winds across our faces. It’s worth noting that getting dust in our eyes after going through Lasik would be scarier, but we tend to be more aware of caring for our eyes post-surgery.
It’s a total cliche, but my goal for 2024 was to have a good vision in life and business. I took the first step in getting my physical vision clear first. I learn to take care of my vision. I’m fitter thanks to more enjoyable training, happier around my wife and kids, and more confident walking around and interacting with people. There’s some analogy to be made here. In Lasik, they cut a flap on the surface of the eyeball and lift it to reshape the cornea underneath for vision clarity. The intervention is magic. However, post-surgery care is essential to avoid eyesight getting worse again.
So, in gaining a 20/20 vision for business and personal life, how do we cure our shortsightedness in our everyday outlook? What’s equivalent to a flap that can be lifted and resealed? What’s comparable to post-intervention care to ensure the vision does not become poor again? You may have heard about the exercise of writing an obituary for your own life or your business. The obituary questions can act like a flap. By answering those questions, we peel the layer to reveal what’s truly important to us.
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