You say that you're worried about wasting $40,000 a year on your course and then seem reluctant to spend $120 to put your mind at rest!
Anyway, I don't think you even need spend that. Take a list of the eyesight requirements to your local optician and, for a no doubt much lower fee, they'll be able to tell you if there is any real cause for concern. I imagine the mumbo-jumbo you talk about is mostly to do with short/long sight and astigmatism limits rather then related to lazy eye but I may be wrong.
Good luck with your course
V1R
P.S. $120 for a Class I - the CAA here charge over £400 for an initial medical! A much less civilised amount
