again i don't know about the RAF, I have heard they use the lantern too, but i don't know if they actaully accept ppl with anything less then perfect eyesight.
i too am in the same boat, having failed the lantern tests at gatwick (was so close!) I'm going to try and get retested (any ideas how?) and if not try and get tested on the continent (france or switzerland)
If all else fails then I'm going to have to goto austrailia and see if I can pass there tests.
I refuse to let something so petty as CVD stop me being a pilot