TSA & contacts

[tryplm]

Are you allowed to pack extra contacts in your carry-on, or do they need to be in your 3-1-1 bag? As expensive as toric lenses are, I don't want to risk losing them by putting them in my checked bag.

 

[aubriee]

Yes, I carry an extra pair of contacts in my carry on every time I fly. Contact lens solution is also exempt from the 3-1-1 rule, because it is considered medically neccessary. I would put the contact lens solution with the lens in a zip lock bag and put them in a bin though. I am a diabetic and just put them in a zip lock bag with my Victoza pen and needles. They've never received a second look. In fact, I've forgotten to take them out of the carryon several times and again they've never received a second look, so I guess the TSA agents are used to seeing them in people's bags. Try to take them out and put them in the bin to declare them before going through though, just to be on the safe side.

 

[sam_gordon]

I pack 1 extra contact (same prescription in both eyes) and my solution in my 3-1-1 bag. I also use a travel size solution. It's enough to get me through a week and I have room in my 3-1-1 bag.

 

[LilyWDW]

I took all my contacts in my carry on because I did not want to risk them getting lost. I did put them in a separate ziplock bag and put it in the bin. At MCO the TSA agent told me I did not have to do that, but I just wanted to make things easier on everyone.

 

[NotUrsula]

They count as Medications, not toiletries, so yes, you can carry them on, and they do NOT have to be in the 3-1-1 baggie. You can also carry on a full-size bottle of contact solution if you like (I normally carry two, actually: peroxide cleaning solution, and wetting saline as well. When I travel alone I take the small bottles because of the weight, but if the family is travelling I take the larger bottles.)

Medically required liquids, such as baby formula and food, breast milk and medications are allowed in excess of 3.4 ounces in reasonable quantities for the flight. It is not necessary to place medically required liquids in a zip-top bag. However, you must tell the Transportation Security Officer that you have medically necessary liquids at the beginning of the screening checkpoint process. Medically required liquids will be subjected to additional screening. We recommend, but do not require, that medication be labeled to facilitate the security process. Many airports have designated lanes for families and individuals with items requiring additional assistance with screening.

I always use a gallon ziploc for liquid meds items, both Rx and OTC, and have it labeled with my last name and the word "Medications". I take it out of the carryon and put it with my 3-1-1 toiletries baggie in a bin, and it goes through with no problem.

The ONLY time that I ever had an issue with a medication was with a can of sunburn pain spray. A screener at TPA very obviously threatened me over it, telling me that if I really wanted to bring it I could, but that since it was in spray form he would have to call for a female TSO to search me in a separate room if I insisted no keeping it, and that since no female TSO's were on duty that shift, that I would probably not manage to make my flight because we would have to wait for one to come in to do the search. I was travelling alone with my younger children, so I decided to let it go, but it was intensely annoying. (DD had a sunburn, which was why I was carrying the spray to begin with.)

 

[stink]

Learn something new everyday. Did not realize contacts & solution were exempt from the 3-1-1 rule. Have always counted them in my 3-1-1 bag.

 

[goofy4tink]

My dd always travels with extra contact lenses. She grabs two extra....same prescription both eyes...puts them in a plastic baggie with her solution. That way it's all together and easy to grab. She has also been told that's not necessary, but we still do it that way.

 

[tryplm]

Thanks for all the info! I kept reading conflicting info. I haven't been on a plane for several years.

 

[CPT Tripss]

They count as Medications, not toiletries, so yes, you can carry them on, and they do NOT have to be in the 3-1-1 baggie. You can also carry on a full-size bottle of contact solution if you like (I normally carry two, actually: peroxide cleaning solution, and wetting saline as well. When I travel alone I take the small bottles because of the weight, but if the family is travelling I take the larger bottles.)



I always use a gallon ziploc for liquid meds items, both Rx and OTC, and have it labeled with my last name and the word "Medications". I take it out of the carryon and put it with my 3-1-1 toiletries baggie in a bin, and it goes through with no problem.

The ONLY time that I ever had an issue with a medication was with a can of sunburn pain spray. A screener at TPA very obviously threatened me over it, telling me that if I really wanted to bring it I could, but that since it was in spray form he would have to call for a female TSO to search me in a separate room if I insisted no keeping it, and that since no female TSO's were on duty that shift, that I would probably not manage to make my flight because we would have to wait for one to come in to do the search. I was travelling alone with my younger children, so I decided to let it go, but it was intensely annoying. (DD had a sunburn, which was why I was carrying the spray to begin with.)

I understand your response given your travelling situation. This is just another example of Airport Security Screeners making up rules as they feel like it.

No female screeners? Really? Hopefully no terrorist sympathizer heard the screener's statment. I wonder what would have happened had you or some other female needed a resolution hands-on the body screening?