The hard lenses route works in many cases indeed.
Strictly speaking you should not wear lenses for a fixed period of time before the initial class 1 test, but it is difficult (although not impossible with the correct equipment, which is not installed as yet in Gatwick) to determine whether you have done this or not.
A more specialist method of correction is called Orthokeratology, using a specifically designed lens to change the shape of your eye, which lasts from one day to up to one week depending on your individual case. It is expensive, about £500, but apparently it works. Lenses are worn overnight, are uncomfortable (as a hard lens is), and are removed after sleep. There is some research into making permanent change in this way with the use of enzymes to encourage the new formation of the eye shape, but as far as I know this is in its infancy, and a similar suspicion is held to that of Lasik regarding long term side effects, or should that be affects, I can never remember the rule?