Oh dear: it may possibly have changed since we entered the strictures of JAR, but again, in the old days, I knew of a number of colleagues who were below these arbitrary limits, they were already flying with their class 3 medicals and after pressure the C.A.A. relented and permitted the issue of a class 1 medical. In the most extreme cases, they insisted that the candidate undergo a flight test with a FIC examiner. If he could find no evidence that the candidate's flying was affected by his below standard eyesight, then the C.A.A. did the necessary. Such people are still about, flying airliners! However, as I said, JAR may have closed this route.
P.P.