? for Contact Lens wearers and Carry On restrictions

[corie161]

I'm going to be taking a short business trip at the end of the month to Orlando. This is only the 2nd time I've flown and the 1st was without all the restrictions, so forgive me if this is a dumb question.

I have it figured out what I need in my quart size bag, but for the life of me don't know how I should handle my contact solution. The smallest bottle I've seen it in is a 4 oz and the airlines want a 3 oz or less. What's the best way to handle this? Buy a bottle to throw away when I'm in Orlando?

Any suggestions?

 

[pamjb]

I get a 2 oz bottle with my contact lens orders. I also have seen the 2 oz size in the trial size section of my local drugstore and Walmart

 

[corie161]

Thanks, I'll look again somewhere, didn't see a trial size at the Walmart closest to me, but it's smaller, so maybe I'll find one somewhere else.

 

[Lewisc]

Contact lens solutions comes under the medical exception. You're not limited to 3 oz bottles and the solution doesn't have to be in your quart bag. You do have to seperately declare it.

 

[ZekeKelso]

Contact lens solutions comes under the medical exception. You're not limited to 3 oz bottles and the solution doesn't have to be in your quart bag. You do have to seperately declare it.

While this is true, it might be a pain. The TSA agent might not understand the rules and force you to toss your solution.

I had no trouble getting a 2oz bottle - they are becoming more common - especially as part of a travel kit that comes with small cleaning solution and extra case.

 

[corie161]

Thanks for the replies. I would much rather get a small bottle than deal with the extra hassles. I'll keep looking.

 

[Lewisc]

Even if the TSA agent isn't clear about the rules the TSA supervisor is. Go with a 2 oz bottle if you can find the brand you use but otherwise just go with a bigger bottle. Contact lenses aren't rare, the rules are clear and you shouldn't have a problem. Just present the bottle to the TSA agent and say it's a medical exception. I wouldn't bring a case of large bottles but a 4 oz bottle won't be problem.

While this is true, it might be a pain. The TSA agent might not understand the rules and force you to toss your solution.

I had no trouble getting a 2oz bottle - they are becoming more common - especially as part of a travel kit that comes with small cleaning solution and extra case.

 

[snickerboo]

My dh flies on business all the time and says he has not been allowed lens solution. He just buys it when he gets there.

 

[Lewisc]

I notice you're from Canada, the rules may be different in other countries.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm#2
is the link to the TSA website, passengers who are concerned can print it.

Bottles larger than 3 oz are suppose to be seperate declared. It's a simple as telling the TSA that this bottle qualifies as a medical exception and you should just put it in a seperate bin. Some agents may get confused when you put it in your baggie.

My dh flies on business all the time and says he has not been allowed lens solution. He just buys it when he gets there.

 

[Jcricket Fan]

I came across a web site for trial size items the other day. They have several things I will be getting and they offer the smaller size contact solution.

I have not ordered from them as yet so I have no first hand experience on the service but they do have a lot of items so I will be giving them a try.

www.minimus.biz

Peace,
Colleen

 

[fleeflicker]

Thanks for the info, I was having a problem with the small bottle also

 

[Susiesnowflake]

Because I could only locate 4 oz bottles and they weren't my son's brand, I called his eye doctor about sample bottles. They had his brand in a 2-3 oz size and provided one for the plane. The larger one he packed in his checked luggage.

 

[hfalk]

The Container Store (you can order online) has many various sizes of travel bottles. They have one (2 oz) that would be perfect for contact lens solution.

 

[corie161]

Because I could only locate 4 oz bottles and they weren't my son's brand, I called his eye doctor about sample bottles. They had his brand in a 2-3 oz size and provided one for the plane. The larger one he packed in his checked luggage.

Thanks, I thought about doing this also!

 

[Fire14]

another idea is ask at walmart vision center I've gotten my travel size ones there as freebbies .

 

[mskay]

I was at my eye doctor last week and they gave me a sample box with solution and a case. The solution is 2 oz. Check with your eye doctor and see if they have something like that. Hope that helps!

 

[juju]

I recently purchased a box at Walgreens that contained a 2oz bottle of solution, an even tinier bottle of lens lubricant and a contact lens case. I noticed the same type of product at another drug store here too. It was in the area with all of the other solutions. It appeared to be a product that you are often given for free by your optometrist when you get a new pair of lenses. It worked for me to carry on when I flew. I packed a larger 4oz bottle in my checked luggage. I have never been able to find this smaller size in the travel size dept. You want to be careful about using a different container too, a lot of bugs can exist and you don't want to mess with your eyes. Also my husband had a hassle going thru TSA with a well marked prescription liquid med, so I wouldn't chance this option.

 

[delilah]

My optometrist gets sample packages of solution (all types) and offers us some every time we go in for an appointment. In fact, we are invited to come in any time we need solution to get some samples. They are 2 oz samples of the cleaning/soaking types, and tiny bottles of rewetting solution. I would check with your optometrist office, because optometrists get these sample size bottles the same way your dentist gets small tubes of toothpaste and toothbrushes, and doctors get samples of certain drugs. Of course, doctors, dentists and optometrists vary in their degree of generous nature, but, I have always been able to get whatever I need. I went before my last trip. The assistant even went back to look for a particular type my husband liked because there was none displayed.