emiree, just thought I'd comment on your eyesight question:
I'd just like to ask, if you have poor eyesight (No optical diseases, simply poor eye sight due to mass amounts of Sega Mega Drive back in the day) would you pass the Medical exam? (FYI: Astigmatism, Left: D:-4.25 CYL:-1.75 || Right: D:-3.50 CYL:-2.25)
arpansingla gave the link to the CAA's Class 1 Visual Standards which you should take a look at - if in doubt, print it off, book an eye test and ask the optician if your sight is good enough - probably the cheapest tick box in the whole process! This is what I did last week.
I'm not an optician but I think you might find your eyesight doesn't meet the requirments for the Class 1 (ie commercial) License (-2.25 astigmatism in your right eye is greater than the maximum of +/-2.00). The rest is near enough at the limits so you have to ask yourself is how many years will it be before its at or beyond the limit?
Like I said though, ask your optician for the official verdict.
Good luck in which ever path you chose!