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In-universe, Geordi's VISOR causes him constant pain.

From "Encounter at Farpoint"

LAFORGE: Is a remarkable piece of bio-electronic engineering by which I quote see much of the EM spectrum ranging from simple heat and infrared through radio waves et cetera, et cetera, and forgive me if I've said and listened to this a thousand times before.  (Without the Visor, Geordi La Forge's eyes are white sightless orbs, and he has flashing red lights at his temples)
CRUSHER: You've been blind all your life?
LAFORGE: I was born this way.
 CRUSHER: And you've felt pain all the years that you've used this?
 LAFORGE: They say it's because I use my natural sensors in different ways.

so as soon as an alternative was possible, Geordi would have a strong reason to switch as soon as possible.

Geordi had been offered some means of eliminating the pain, but they are risky and/or would interfere with vision. From the same episode:

CRUSHER: Well, I see two choices. The first is painkillers.
LAFORGE: Which would affect how this works. No. Choice number two?
CRUSHER: Exploratory surgery. Desensitise the brain areas troubling you.
LAFORGE: Same difference. No, thank you, Doctor.
CRUSHER: I understand.

In-universe, Geordi's VISOR causes him constant pain.

From "Encounter at Farpoint":

LAFORGE: Is a remarkable piece of bio-electronic engineering by which I quote see much of the EM spectrum ranging from simple heat and infrared through radio waves et cetera, et cetera, and forgive me if I've said and listened to this a thousand times before. 

(Without the Visor, Geordi La Forge's eyes are white sightless orbs, and he has flashing red lights at his temples)

CRUSHER: You've been blind all your life?

LAFORGE: I was born this way. 

CRUSHER: And you've felt pain all the years that you've used this? 

LAFORGE: They say it's because I use my natural sensors in different ways.

So as soon as an alternative was possible, Geordi would have a strong reason to switch as soon as possible.

Geordi had been offered some means of eliminating the pain, but they are risky and/or would interfere with vision. From the same episode:

CRUSHER: Well, I see two choices. The first is painkillers.

LAFORGE: Which would affect how this works. No. Choice number two?

CRUSHER: Exploratory surgery. Desensitise the brain areas troubling you.

LAFORGE: Same difference. No, thank you, Doctor.

CRUSHER: I understand.

In-universe, Geordi's VISOR causes him constant pain.

From "Encounter at Farpoint"

LAFORGE: Is a remarkable piece of bio-electronic engineering by which I quote see much of the EM spectrum ranging from simple heat and infrared through radio waves et cetera, et cetera, and forgive me if I've said and listened to this a thousand times before. (Without the Visor, Geordi La Forge's eyes are white sightless orbs, and he has flashing red lights at his temples)

CRUSHER: You've been blind all your life? LAFORGE: I was born this way.  CRUSHER: And you've felt pain all the years that you've used this?

 LAFORGE: They say it's because I use my natural sensors in different ways.

so as soon as an alternative was possible, Geordi would have a strong reason to switch as soon as possible.

Geordi had been offered some means of eliminating the pain, but they are risky and/or would interfere with vision. From the same episode:

CRUSHER: Well, I see two choices. The first is painkillers. LAFORGE: Which would affect how this works. No. Choice number two?

CRUSHER: Exploratory surgery. Desensitise the brain areas troubling you.

LAFORGE: Same difference. No, thank you, Doctor.

CRUSHER: I understand.

In-universe, Geordi's VISOR causes him constant pain.

From "Encounter at Farpoint"

LAFORGE: Is a remarkable piece of bio-electronic engineering by which I quote see much of the EM spectrum ranging from simple heat and infrared through radio waves et cetera, et cetera, and forgive me if I've said and listened to this a thousand times before. (Without the Visor, Geordi La Forge's eyes are white sightless orbs, and he has flashing red lights at his temples)
CRUSHER: You've been blind all your life?
LAFORGE: I was born this way. 
CRUSHER: And you've felt pain all the years that you've used this? 
LAFORGE: They say it's because I use my natural sensors in different ways.

so as soon as an alternative was possible, Geordi would have a strong reason to switch as soon as possible.

Geordi had been offered some means of eliminating the pain, but they are risky and/or would interfere with vision. From the same episode:

CRUSHER: Well, I see two choices. The first is painkillers. 
LAFORGE: Which would affect how this works. No. Choice number two? 
CRUSHER: Exploratory surgery. Desensitise the brain areas troubling you.
LAFORGE: Same difference. No, thank you, Doctor.
CRUSHER: I understand.

In-universe, Geordi's VISOR causes him constant pain:

LAFORGE: Is a remarkable piece of bio-electronic engineering by which I quote see much of the EM spectrum ranging from simple heat and infrared through radio waves et cetera, et cetera, and forgive me if I've said and listened to this a thousand times before. (Without the Visor, Geordi La Forge's eyes are white sightless orbs, and he has flashing red lights at his temples) CRUSHER: You've been blind all your life? LAFORGE: I was born this way. CRUSHER: And you've felt pain all the years that you've used this? LAFORGE: They say it's because I use my natural sensors in different ways.

so as soon as an alternative was possible, Geordi would have a strong reason to switch as soon as possible.

In-universe, Geordi's VISOR causes him constant pain.

From "Encounter at Farpoint"

LAFORGE: Is a remarkable piece of bio-electronic engineering by which I quote see much of the EM spectrum ranging from simple heat and infrared through radio waves et cetera, et cetera, and forgive me if I've said and listened to this a thousand times before. (Without the Visor, Geordi La Forge's eyes are white sightless orbs, and he has flashing red lights at his temples) 

CRUSHER: You've been blind all your life? LAFORGE: I was born this way. CRUSHER: And you've felt pain all the years that you've used this?

LAFORGE: They say it's because I use my natural sensors in different ways.

so as soon as an alternative was possible, Geordi would have a strong reason to switch as soon as possible.

Geordi had been offered some means of eliminating the pain, but they are risky and/or would interfere with vision. From the same episode:

CRUSHER: Well, I see two choices. The first is painkillers. LAFORGE: Which would affect how this works. No. Choice number two?

CRUSHER: Exploratory surgery. Desensitise the brain areas troubling you.

LAFORGE: Same difference. No, thank you, Doctor.

CRUSHER: I understand.