Should I get laser eye surgery (PRK or LASIK) before basic training?

No!!  Often one thinks they should get laser vision surgery (LASIK or PRK) prior to entering the military.  You should wait.  There are a few good reasons for this.

1.  Many soldiers will qualify for the Warfighter Refractive Eye Surgery Program.  Under this program the military will do refractive surgery (LASIK or PRK) at NO cost to the soldier.

2.  Certain refractive surgery procedures will disqualify a soldier from specialty schools.  For example, LASIK disqualifies a soldier from HALO, Scuba, SFQC, SERE. 

3.  There are military entrance standards (AR 40-501) that may prevent a soldier from entering basic.  These standards are very specific for refractive surgery and if a recruit does not follow these standards they may be prevented from starting basic training.  Clink here for the AR 40-501 entrance standards for refractive surgery.