TSA took my wife's contact solution

[dudspizza]

She uses Clear Care, which has hydrogen peroxide in it. TSA tested it this morning and told her anything with hydrogen peroxide in it can't go thru the TSA checkpoint if it's over 3.4 ounces. She had to toss it.

I guess I was thinking it fit under the "over the counter" medications since it is an essential item for her.

No biggie, she'll get a new bottle when she gets to her destination.

Duds

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

It is allowed. I bet she was nicer then I am. I ask for a supervisor and point our that their web page this is allowed. They hate that

 

[ParrotBill]

Where did you find that contact lens solution is classified as a medically necessary liquid? Everything I can find suggested you are limited to 3.4oz in carry-on and bigger amounts must be in checked.

 

[jsilvers]

Where did you find that contact lens solution is classified as a medically necessary liquid?

This is stated in several places on the TSA website; for example:

Medically necessary liquids include: baby formula, breast milk, insulin, cough syrup, contact lens solution, and prescription medications. These liquids must be presented to a TSA Officer for additional screening, which should usually take less than 2 minutes.​

http://blog.tsa.gov/2008/11/familyspecial-needs-lanes-coming-to-all.html

However, the comments on another TSA page include a copy of a message from the manufacturer of clear care (posted to the website by a third party, not TSA) which says:

Clear Care® contains hydrogen peroxide which is on the list of TSA banned solutions; however, contact lens solutions are exempt and should be allowed for carry on. Although our Clear Care travel size is TSA compliant, it is at the discretion of the individual TSA agent to allow the product to pass. Unfortunately, some airports and agents are more strict than others, and will not allow the solution to be carried on the plane.​

http://blog.tsa.gov/2010/05/3-1-1-liquid-policy-still-in-place.html

 

[CPT Tripss]

The Airport Security Screener was wrong to have your wife "voluntarily" surrender the contact lens cleaner. Sadly, they are wrong a lot. A FlyerTalk poster has even reported an Airport Security Screener not allowing a passenger to bring his nitro pill, might have been spray, through to the plane.

 

[nilseks]

Wow. I travel with Clear Care all the time, never had a problem. Kind of a bummer to have to go out of her way to replace it, particularly because Clear Care isn't cheap.

 

[sam_gordon]

This is stated in several places on the TSA website; for example:

Medically necessary liquids include: baby formula, breast milk, insulin, cough syrup, contact lens solution, and prescription medications. These liquids must be presented to a TSA Officer for additional screening, which should usually take less than 2 minutes.​

http://blog.tsa.gov/2008/11/familyspecial-needs-lanes-coming-to-all.html

That link is:
A) From a blog put out by the TSA
B) From 2008.

By actually going to tsa.gov, and putting "contact solution" under "When I fly, can I bring...", it calls up this page: http://apps.tsa.dhs.gov/mytsa/cib_results.aspx?src=tsawebsite, which does NOT list contact solution as "medically required liquid."

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.

From the same page...

If the liquid is considered a hazardous material that is permitted onboard an aircraft, it is still subject to the 3-1-1 limitations.

Personally, when I fly, my contact solution is in my 3-1-1 bag, and in a travel size container. Yes, supposedly I can bring a larger size, but I don't need larger. My 3.4oz bottle lasts for WEEKS.

 

[jsilvers]

That link is:
A) From a blog put out by the TSA
B) From 2008.

And it's content is still accurate, so I'm not sure what your objection is, exactly?

By actually going to tsa.gov, and putting "contact solution" under "When I fly, can I bring...", it calls up this page: http://apps.tsa.dhs.gov/mytsa/cib_results.aspx?src=tsawebsite, which does NOT list contact solution as "medically required liquid."

TSA has in various contexts confirmed that over-the-counter medications are within the scope of the exception. See, for example, http://annsilverthorn.com/index.php/1629/contacts-and-carry-ons-what-about-saline/. So again, I'm not sure what your objection is, exactly?

 

[sam_gordon]

And it's content is still accurate, so I'm not sure what your objection is, exactly?



TSA has in various contexts confirmed that over-the-counter medications are within the scope of the exception. See, for example, http://annsilverthorn.com/index.php/1629/contacts-and-carry-ons-what-about-saline/. So again, I'm not sure what your objection is, exactly?

The "objection" if you want to call it that is I don't feel the links you posted are "official" in that you could print it out/show it to the TSA officer that you're allowed to bring more than 3.4oz of saline solution. I don't think "A blog said I could" would be an allowable excuse.

 

[CPT Tripss]

Lordie, lordie. A pp was referencing THE TSA blog. Not some random blog.

Does anyone really think that the TSA website has the complete listing of every medically necessary liquid?

 

[kaybee1476]

When we went to Hawaii last February, they took 2 brand new bottles of Clear Care from me at the airport. They said the peroxide in that brand could be dangerous at high altitude. That stuff is not cheap, so I was not happy about tossing it. But somehow the thought of "I'm going to Hawaii!" made everything better.

 

[sam_gordon]

Lorries, lordie. A pp was referencing THE TSA blog. Not some random blog.

Does anyone really think that the TSA website has the complete listing of every medically necessary liquid?

Personally, it it wasn't specifically mentioned as allowable (even as something as generic as 'contact solution'), I wouldn't take it or I'd be willing to give it up. And yes, I understand that was the TSA blog. It's just not something *I* would point to when a TSA officer says "this isn't allowed." If you want to, feel free.

 

[Lewisc]

The medical exception for liquids refers to "reasonable" quantities.

It's not clear if a 16oz bottle is a "reasonable" quantity. I don't if that's the size bottle the OP had.

Unless I was in a rush I'd ask for a supervisor. TSA agents make mistakes. Sounds like that happened here. Sometimes the easiest thing to do is to just dump the contact lens solution.

Most passengers are required to remove your 3-1-1 bag from your bag and put it in a bin. You're also required to separately declare and liquids which are a medical exception. There could be an issue if this isn't done, and the liquid is discovered when the bag goes through the X-Ray machine. I don't know if this happened to the OP. but it is something to keep in mind.

 

[NotUrsula]

Personally, when I fly, my contact solution is in my 3-1-1 bag, and in a travel size container. Yes, supposedly I can bring a larger size, but I don't need larger. My 3.4oz bottle lasts for WEEKS.

I'm guessing you don't use ClearCare? 3.4 oz of Clear Care will last one user about 5 days at most. The container to soak the lenses overnight requires about 3/4 oz. for each use. When my son and I travel together for a week, we need 12 oz between us.

What I normally do is bring several of the small bottles, because that way the weight in the carryon is distributed. Also, TSA has never seemed to notice it among my other liquid/cream medications in their separate baggie.

If they started giving me a hassle about it, I'd just cover the red/blue label with a prescription label. (I have those handy because my family has several prescription skin creams that come in boxes. The pharmacy just puts the label in the bag with it, and I tape them to in inside of the medicine cabinet door.)