PRK and SMILE do not have a universal price difference. Compare the total written estimate for the recommended procedure, not an advertised monthly payment. Visionary Eye Surgery provides individual pricing after evaluation; a published LASIK range is not a PRK or SMILE quote.

The PRK/ASA page and SMILE page explain candidacy and treatment. This guide focuses on comparing their costs when an examination has established which options are appropriate.

Is PRK always cheaper than SMILE?

No. Clinics may price the procedures differently or use similar package prices. A fee can reflect the treatment, testing, surgeon, follow-up period, and what is included. The procedure name alone does not tell you the final cost.

For example, UCLA Health's published fee schedule lists the same per-eye fee for PRK and SMILE. That is one California provider's schedule, not a Dallas-Fort Worth average or Visionary's price. It illustrates why assuming a fixed SMILE premium can mislead.

Ask for the price per eye and the total for the planned treatment. Confirm whether a quoted promotion applies to your prescription, procedure, and planned date. A lower price should not override a finding that the procedure is unsuitable for your cornea or eye health.

What belongs in a complete surgery quote?

Use the same questions for each practice. A short comparison makes differences easier to identify than collecting several headline prices.

Item	What to confirm in writing
Testing	Whether the consultation, corneal scans, and repeat measurements are included
Treatment	Which procedure and eye or eyes the estimate covers
Medication	Which prescriptions or lubricating drops are separate purchases
Follow-up	How long routine visits are covered and who provides them
Additional care	How unscheduled visits, complications, or further treatment are billed
Payment	The cash total, financed total, and conditions of any promotion

For PRK, specifically ask about the bandage contact lens and its follow-up care. For either procedure, ask what happens if repeat testing changes the recommendation before surgery. Confirm deposit, cancellation, and refund terms before paying.

The FDA's SMILE patient booklet encourages discussing surgery and follow-up costs with the doctor. An enhancement policy should also explain medical eligibility: paying for a package does not guarantee that another operation will be safe or necessary.

How can recovery change the amount you budget?

The surgery invoice is only part of a personal budget. PRK involves surface healing and a temporary bandage lens; SMILE has a different early recovery. Neither gives a guaranteed return-to-work or driving date.

Separate direct medical expenses from practical costs such as unpaid time off, transport, childcare, and trips for follow-up. A desk worker and someone who drives professionally may need different plans even with the same prescription. Ask how the proposed recovery fits your actual job rather than assuming that a long weekend is sufficient.

Our SMILE versus PRK comparison covers those clinical tradeoffs. A cheaper operation is not necessarily the less expensive plan if you cannot accommodate its recovery safely.

Does insurance or financing change the comparison?

Elective refractive correction is commonly self-pay. A vision-plan discount is different from insurance paying a surgical claim. Confirm benefits directly with your plan; an unusual medical circumstance needs its own coverage determination.

For financing, compare the amount financed, APR, term, fees, and total repayment. Ask whether promotional interest is waived or deferred and what happens if the balance remains when the promotion ends. A monthly payment without those details is not enough to compare offers.

Use the affordability page for current payment options and confirm eligibility with the practice and lender. Do not assume an offer advertised for LASIK applies to PRK or SMILE.

How should DFW patients request an estimate?

Visionary's practice is in Plano. If you are traveling from Frisco, Dallas, or elsewhere in DFW, ask which visits require attendance and whether repeat testing could mean an additional trip.

Bring your current prescription, contact-lens history, work requirements, and any competing written quote. Contact the team for an evaluation and request a procedure-specific estimate after the measurements are reviewed. The useful result is a clear recommendation and full cost, including the option to keep wearing glasses or contacts.