Hi there V1,
I am in the same situation as yourself and was also offered the deviaion route, but unfortunately I didn't have the requisite 3 years of opticians reports the CAA requests in order to establish the stability of your eyesight, so I would have had to wait 3 years before I could even embark on that route. I decided to go the FAA/ICAO route - got my JAR PPL in florida, and am currently in canada doing their ICAO CPL/MEIR. When I obtain this and return the UK, I will be assessed on an extended renewal basis because I hold a foreign CPL. On this basis I should be issued with a JAR Class1. As far as I understand it, having fought for my medical for nearly a year now, if you hold a foreign CPL, you go to gatwick and undergo the renewal exam.
Best of luck with it, and don't give up !
divorcingjack