If my eyesight was as good as my hindsight, I wouldn't need the procedure.
The very first day I walked into my recruiter's office to find out about becoming a Naval Aviator, the first thing I told him was that I could not pay for the surgery unless I was already accepted into the program. He agreed that it was up to me and we could do MEPS after pro rec.
I should have done it before, but not knowing if spending the money was going to benefit me I was not ready to cross that bridge. However, now I realize that I have to wait 3-6 months to sign my life away and start getting paid. It sucks but that's the way it is.
Yeah yeah I did the research....argh. I've got a road trip planned on the day after too (I won't be the one driving of course) just to get some stuff done that I've been putting off because I've been so busy at work. Here's to hoping I don't kill myself during the post-op days...
It sounds from your first posts that you have the idea that you're going to get BDCP money as soon as you can see 20/20 - you won't collect a check (or final select) till ~7 months after the surgery. Now if you're 20/40 each eye at MEPS, then this is all for naught, but it sounds like you know you're not going to make it. Therefore MEPS will be a waste of a day that sounds like you can't afford.
I wouldn't have flown 4 days post op, but I was driving at night. I was 20/40 or better at that point, and thats all the state says you need to drive. Probably setting a bad example for a student, not to mention that you'll be light blinded.
Also keep in mind that you can finance the surgery, so don't think that you'll have to pay for it all on the day its done.
And finally, bring a towel to put over your head during the drive in case you're light sensitive at that point (probably won't be, but you
will need the refresh (saline) drops then).