Contact lens solution in carry-on?

[bethbuchall]

My daughter is flying to Europe (Lufthansa there and AirCanada home), and we have been trying to find contact lens solution for her carry-on. The Opti-Free that she uses comes in a "travel size-perfect for air travel" that is 4 oz. (118 ml). This is too big, isn't it? Everything that I've read says 100 ml for liquids, and I didn't see an exception for contact lens solution on those airline websites. I may try the eye doctors office to see what size their samples are.

 

[crashbb]

Both the TSA (US) and CATSA (Canada) exempt saline solution (you are right, 4oz is too big for non-exempt liquid). So, she is fine leaving Canada.

I'm not sure that the German equivilant of these is (and if they exempt saline solution). There are some standards, but not everything is exact.

The airline that she is flying is irrelvant - they do not set the rules.

ETA - helpful CATA site

http://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/page.aspx?id=5&pname=PermittedItems_ArticlesPermis&lang=en&CategoryID=4

Look for "saline solution"

 

[bethbuchall]

Both the TSA (US) and CATSA (Canada) exempt saline solution (you are right, 4oz is too big for non-exempt liquid). So, she is fine leaving Canada.

I'm not sure that the German equivilant of these is (and if they exempt saline solution). There are some standards, but not everything is exact.

The airline that she is flying is irrelvant - they do not set the rules.

Thanks! She is actually flying Newark to Amsterdam through Frankfurt and then Paris to LaGuardia through Toronto if that helps.

I don't get why they couldn't make the special travel size 100ml instead of 118ml.

 

[crashbb]

Thanks! She is actually flying Newark to Amsterdam through Frankfurt and then Paris to LaGuardia through Toronto if that helps.

I don't get why they couldn't make the special travel size 100ml instead of 118ml.

Newark to Amsterdam and Toronto to LaGuardia is she definitely fine (she will have to re-clear security in Toronto on that leg, so she will have to abide by CATSA rules).

I would think that she was also fine in Frankfurt and Paris (I have brought contact solution through Paris - but that doesn't really mean anything), but don't want to promise. The 100mL is accepted, but there seems to be some differences in what exceptions are allowed. I know, for example, that I wasn't allowed to take cough syrup through security at Heathrow (frankly, I think that Heathrow sometimes makes up its own rules) because it wasn't prescription, but it would have been fine in a Canadian or American airport. When I looked it up (after the flight), the UK rules were rather vague about what type of medication was exempt.

 

[bethbuchall]

Newark to Amsterdam and Toronto to LaGuardia is she definitely fine (she will have to re-clear security in Toronto on that leg, so she will have to abide by CATSA rules).

I would think that she was also fine in Frankfurt and Paris (I have brought contact solution through Paris - but that doesn't really mean anything), but don't want to promise. The 100mL is accepted, but there seems to be some differences in what exceptions are allowed. I know, for example, that I wasn't allowed to take cough syrup through security at Heathrow (frankly, I think that Heathrow sometimes makes up its own rules) because it wasn't prescription, but it would have been fine in a Canadian or American airport. When I looked it up (after the flight), the UK rules were rather vague about what type of medication was exempt.

Thanks so much! It is more important on the way there than on the way home, and she'll have the big bottle in the checked bag. We almost never fly, so I am very in the dark about all of this. Thanks again!

 

[bethbuchall]

In case someone else stumbles upon this, I wanted to say that we found a lot of 2 oz. contact lens solution choices at Target in the travel-size section.

 

[dioxide45]

Try going to your eye doctor also and ask for one of the sample packages they usually have. As a bonus they usually come with a case. Every time we order contacts we ask for a couple for our vacations.

 

[SilverMickey]

Rite aid had Re-Nu for a buck int he travel section. (great deal!)

 

[Yzerbear19]

I had the Opti-free 4 oz bottle in my liquid bag when we went in Dec and did not have a problem.

The only thing I suggest is that she take the same kind that she normally uses. Some people have issues with trying different solutions. It would be very unpleasant if she has a reaction to the solution while she is overseas.

 

[Lewisc]

Contact lens solutions are a medical exception to the 3-1-1 rule. Technically they should be separately declared. A full size (12-16 oz) bottle qualifies for an exception but the travel size bottles give you enough solution for your trip and are easier to carry.

The 3-1-1 rule is a US (TSA) rule.