Hi there,
I have amblyopia, in laymans terms "lazy eye" and at the moment the CAA will not issue me with a Class 1 and have said that had I not held a current Class 2 certificate, I would not pass a sight test for the initial issue of a Class 2.
I know of commercial pilots who have lost an eye after gaining their ATPL and have had their Class 1 certificates reissued after a flight test, however they will not even consider a flight test unless you already have the licence.
The CAA would appear to have double standards on the sight issue (or indeed any medical condition) Once you have a certificate they will try their hardest to keep it for you... but they will not try in the least bit to help to get it in the first place.
I wonder... extending the CAA double standards slightly... if the holder of an ATPL were decapitated in an accident would they still reissue the medical?
So to sum up... If you already hold a medical, no problem... if you don't, you have a choice, forget flying or fight the CAA all the way.
One day common sense may prevail, until then we have the CAA
All the best
BlipOnTheRadar