Travel Size Saline Solution - can't find

[DeaverTex]

Son of a gun. I'd never heard of the medical exception, and I've gone nuts myself looking for TSA-sized saline bottles.

By the way, moving saline from one bottle to another doesn't maintain the sterility.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

You'll be fine with a new bottle. It's considered a medication.

 

[bcla]

Son of a gun. I'd never heard of the medical exception, and I've gone nuts myself looking for TSA-sized saline bottles.

By the way, moving saline from one bottle to another doesn't maintain the sterility.

I don't think it's a good idea, but a preserved saline solution might still be sterile after transfer to a non-sterile container provided enough time is given to disinfect. There's still a preservative in there, although it might be less than with a disinfecting solution. When using a disinfecting solution, part of what it does is disinfect the inside of the storage case. I've even heard that in some markets, certain saline solutions have been approved for disinfection overnight. I heard Ciba Softwear Saline was approved in some countries for a 12 hour or so disinfection cycle. Most preserved saline I've seen have instructions that they're suitable for storage after disinfection - up to 30 days. So the preservative is adequate to keep a case disinfected and the lens after handling.

I remember seeing a house guest who transferred MPS to a travel sized container for shampoos. I didn't say anything, but I knew it was a bad idea.

 

[Neelloc]

Saline solution/contact lens solution is considered medical and exempt from the 3oz rule. I've always flown with my 12oz bottle and kept it in my carryon. I usually pull it out and put it in my bin next to my quart bag and medications.

The only time a TSA agent gave it a 2nd thought was when I had a new, unopened bottle on a return flight from Chicago. She swabbed that one. Open ones have never caused any issues.

 

[njmom47]

Son of a gun. I'd never heard of the medical exception, and I've gone nuts myself looking for TSA-sized saline bottles.

By the way, moving saline from one bottle to another doesn't maintain the sterility.

I was thinking about that as well.

 

[bcla]

I was thinking about that as well.

As a generalization, it's a bad idea to transfer a sterile solution from one container to another, but the reality is that preserved saline can maintain its sterility to some degree if the microbial load it faces is low enough, and if there's enough "reserve disinfectant" left that hasn't been depleted.

I've noted that lots of saline comes with instructions that it's suitable for storage after disinfection. Some prefer regular saline to disinfecting solutions because it has fewer potential irritants such as surfactants. So you remove the lens from the case, dump out the disinfecting solution, and then fill the case with saline. In the meanwhile you're handling the lens with your fingers. It all works out because there is a small ability for saline to disinfect.

I remember using several types of disinfecting products over the years. One of the more interesting was Ciba Quick Care. It used a cleaner (probably just relabelled MiraFlow) and a finishing solution (thought to be relabeled SoftWear Saline). The cleaner was really soapy and contained about 33% isopropyl alcohol. The alcohol basically was a fast acting disinfectant. The finishing solution was just a rinse. After a proper rinse the lenses were to be placed in the case with the finishing solution for at least 3 minutes and up to 30 days according to the instructions. So the saline for storage was able to handle some of the germs in the case as well as transferred from one's hands.

They all have preservatives. However, there are issues transferring to another container, including introducing contaminants that might irritate the eyes as well as depleting the preservative as I hinted.

 

[iheartdisney]

I got mine at Target also- it was with the rest of the contact solution. i use BioTrue, and they have a travel set, with a case and a 2 oz bottle. I just didn't feel like taking the big bottle with me, exempted or not. `

 

[Zandy595]

I got mine at Target also- it was with the rest of the contact solution. i use BioTrue, and they have a travel set, with a case and a 2 oz bottle. I just didn't feel like taking the big bottle with me, exempted or not. `

BioTrue is a multipurpose solution, not saline.

 

[ChristineNic]

DH refers to his ReNu as saline solution. I keep telling him it's not the same thing because I use actual saline to rinse the daily cleaner off my contacts. I use Clear Care, which is a peroxide disinfecting solution, not a multi-purpose solution.

I use Clear Care and after the peroxide is neutralized, there is no need to rinse your lenses. If the solution doesn't neutralize in 6 hours, you need a new case.

 

[bcla]

I use Clear Care and after the peroxide is neutralized, there is no need to rinse your lenses. If the solution doesn't neutralize in 6 hours, you need a new case.

I tried everything, from different MPS products to peroxide. I thought that ClearCare or AOSept was pretty cool (they used exactly the same case and patinum neutralizing disc). The main issues were keeping track of how often it was used (since the platinum eventually depletes) and keeping the container upright. I've heard of people soaking the lenses in the peroxide first, then neutralizing - to get more time before the peroxide is neutralized.

Allergan had a different peroxide system that used a neutralizing tablet. It left a light color that didn't really affect the lens as an indicator that the tablet was in there.

 

[Zandy595]

I use Clear Care and after the peroxide is neutralized, there is no need to rinse your lenses. If the solution doesn't neutralize in 6 hours, you need a new case.

I used to use AOsept and I didn't have to rinse my lenses before putting them in my eyes. However, since that is no longer available I use Clear Care. If I don't rinse them with saline first my eyes sting and turn red. I change my case every 3 months, per eye doc's instructions and my contacts are in the case for at least 10 hours each night.

I also need to rinse them with saline after I use B&L daily cleaner before I put them in the Clear Care. I've had problems with eye irritation so this is what my eye doc recommends. He actually takes care of his contacts the same way. He doesn't like the no-rub multipurpose solutions.

 

[Zandy595]

I just got back from the trip. I highly recommend not taking a full size bottle of contact solution in your carry-on. I had the bottle in a separate ziploc bag, by itself, took it out and put it in a bin. At first they said they needed to pat me down, then a lady came over and said if I let them open the bottle and do a vapor test they wouldn't need to do the pat down. WTH? So of course I said open the bottle. At that point I was ready to tell them to throw the bottle out. The whole incident took about 10 minutes and we were already running late. I will never do that again.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Bringing this post back to life to see if there are any further thoughts on this more recently. I ran across this thread by just searching the internet for a sample size saline solution for carry on.

After reading this I was all set to just bring my regular sized bottle but then the previous poster said what a hassle it was. I don't want to open my sterile bottle for them to do tests on it after handling who know what else. I'd like to know how people's experiences have been recently.

Or if anyone now knows where to get a sample size of "true" saline solution (not the multipurpose) that would also be helpful.

 

[ptlohmysoul]

Bringing this post back to life to see if there are any further thoughts on this more recently. I ran across this thread by just searching the internet for a sample size saline solution for carry on.

After reading this I was all set to just bring my regular sized bottle but then the previous poster said what a hassle it was. I don't want to open my sterile bottle for them to do tests on it after handling who know what else. I'd like to know how people's experiences have been recently.

Or if anyone now knows where to get a sample size of "true" saline solution (not the multipurpose) that would also be helpful.

You are allowed to bring a regular size bottle. The hassle depends on the airport/TSA agent. At DCA, no problem - you open the bottle, they wave some paper over it for fumes. At MCO, the lady opened it with her gloved hands (which had touched who knows what) and did a similar test. She was rushing, so her glove probably touched the tip of the bottle, contaminating it. I mentioned that's not how they did it at DCA and she said she knows she wears contacts, as if she knew somethiing about contamination. Obviously not. Just be prepared to throw it away if necessary and carry an extra in your regular luggage.

 

[PinkBudgie]

You are allowed to bring a regular size bottle. The hassle depends on the airport/TSA agent. At DCA, no problem - you open the bottle, they wave some paper over it for fumes. At MCO, the lady opened it with her gloved hands (which had touched who knows what) and did a similar test. She was rushing, so her glove probably touched the tip of the bottle, contaminating it. I mentioned that's not how they did it at DCA and she said she knows she wears contacts, as if she knew somethiing about contamination. Obviously not. Just be prepared to throw it away if necessary and carry an extra in your regular luggage.

Yes, it is the accidental touching of the tip I'm worried about. We would bring one in our luggage but wanted on for carry on too in case luggage gets lost. That would be something we'd need for a first night/morning. But since it's only back up, I'll take the chance.