Royal Gramma
Registered User
Let me give you my background:
-Active Duty Coast Guard
-Assigned to a ship based out of Seattle
-Closest Naval clinic where can PRK is Bremerton, which is convenient since its a 30 min ferry ride away.
-Have already had a PRK consult with the military Optometrist here in Seattle and faxed the form to the folks in Bremerton (this was about 6 months ago).
-Categorized as a priority 2 by my CO.
Was instructed by the folks at the clinic in Bremerton to call them back to schedule my pre-op appointment at the first opportunity when I would be back from a deployment AND have a continuous 3 months in port. According to them, you aren't allowed to deploy for 3 months after you've had PRK.
Well because of our deployment schedule, I haven't yet had the solid three months inport. We have a very short deployment coming up, so my earliest opportunity to have the surgery would be early May. I'm also due to transfer this summer.
My question is: Since I'm due to transfer within 3 months of me returning from the deployment (probably in June or early July), will the Navy still let me have PRK while I'm still attached to my current unit? I will still probably be priority 2 at my next unit. It would extremely convenient for me to have it while I'm still in Seattle due to the proximity of the Naval Clinic. My next assignment will likely be Miami, where the closest clinic that offers PRK is Jacksonville, a not so lovely 6-hour drive away. Also, what's the norm for the post op appointments? For which ones are you required to return to the refractive surgery clinic? Which ones can you do at your local optometrist? What do active service members typically do, when the only MTF that offers PRK is not around the corner. Do MTFs the offer PRK require you to reside in the immediate area?
Thanks.
-Active Duty Coast Guard
-Assigned to a ship based out of Seattle
-Closest Naval clinic where can PRK is Bremerton, which is convenient since its a 30 min ferry ride away.
-Have already had a PRK consult with the military Optometrist here in Seattle and faxed the form to the folks in Bremerton (this was about 6 months ago).
-Categorized as a priority 2 by my CO.
Was instructed by the folks at the clinic in Bremerton to call them back to schedule my pre-op appointment at the first opportunity when I would be back from a deployment AND have a continuous 3 months in port. According to them, you aren't allowed to deploy for 3 months after you've had PRK.
Well because of our deployment schedule, I haven't yet had the solid three months inport. We have a very short deployment coming up, so my earliest opportunity to have the surgery would be early May. I'm also due to transfer this summer.
My question is: Since I'm due to transfer within 3 months of me returning from the deployment (probably in June or early July), will the Navy still let me have PRK while I'm still attached to my current unit? I will still probably be priority 2 at my next unit. It would extremely convenient for me to have it while I'm still in Seattle due to the proximity of the Naval Clinic. My next assignment will likely be Miami, where the closest clinic that offers PRK is Jacksonville, a not so lovely 6-hour drive away. Also, what's the norm for the post op appointments? For which ones are you required to return to the refractive surgery clinic? Which ones can you do at your local optometrist? What do active service members typically do, when the only MTF that offers PRK is not around the corner. Do MTFs the offer PRK require you to reside in the immediate area?
Thanks.