Contacts and Carry-Ons: What About Saline?

“Medically necessary liquids, such as contact solution,

are allowed in excess of 3.4 oz. in carry-on bags.”

(TSA – March 1, 2019)

If you wear contact lenses and you’ve traveled by air, you’ve probably made a special trip to the store for contact-lens solution (saline) in a bottle 3.4 ounces or smaller. But that trip was unnecessary, because you could carry on a gallon of it if you wanted to lug that much. Every so often, I check to make sure the policy hasn’t changed, since my 2013 post about this matter, and the most recent communication with the TSA was via Twitter on March 1, 2019. I should mention you can ask any question about security matters to @AskTSA on Twitter. They are really good at answering promptly, and many of their Tweets will make you shake your head when you see what some people try to bring onto a plane.

Here’s what TSA says:

Medically necessary liquids, such as contact solution, are allowed in excess of 3.4 oz. in carry-on bags. It doesn’t need to be packed in your liquids bag, but should be separated from your other belongings prior to X-ray screening. Please note that any liquid, including items deemed medically-necessary, that alarms during screening and tests positive for certain chemicals, won’t be allowed through the checkpoint. If you’re concerned your solution may not clear screening, we recommend placing it in your checked bags. Safe travels. (TSA March 1, 2019)

I learned something new about flying yesterday, and I’m so excited, I just had to share it with you–well those of you who wear contacts and have to fly the friendly skies. The rest of you, who know people who have contacts and fly, can impress your friends with information that will make their travel experience much, much more comfortable. And if you already know about what I’m going to tell you, well, you’re just a smarty pants.

For years, when packing for a trip, I’ve had the experience of not being able to find the little bottle of saline solution that I had been saving for these trips. That is, not until I returned from the trip. Sometimes, I would just fill my contact case with saline solution in case I decided to take my contacts out during the trip and wear my glasses. But what if I just wanted to clean my foggy contacts and put them back in my tired eyes between point A and point B? Well, sometimes, I would dig out a small, empty travel container and squirt saline from the big bottle into it. But that never seemed too sanitary.

What About Slightly Larger Contact Saline Bottles?

Recently, I purchased a small bottle of saline and actually found it prior to packing for the trip I’m on this weekend. To my dismay, I realized that it was a 4 oz. container. The limit for liquid in carry-ons is 3.4 oz. Why the heck would the saline company use a 4 oz. bottle? Something sounded fishy.

So, I Googled the matter, and I found a reference to saline solutions being medically necessary with a link to this page: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/liquids-rule. However, that page didn’t specifically address saline and whether it is considered medication. I then navigated to the disabilities and medical conditions page: http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/travelers-disabilities-and-medical-conditions.
But that didn’t answer the question to my satisfaction, either. It did, however, list a phone number for TSA Cares (855-787-2227), so I called it.

The woman I spoke with read the policy to me and asked me if I would like her to email it to me. What a nice lady.

Well, well, well. Apparently, contact saline solution is considered an over-the-counter medication. Who knew? Therefore, you can carry a gallon of it, as long as you place it in its own bin and “declare” it at screening. If you wear contacts, and weren’t already aware of this factoid, this will make a big difference in your future flying life.

So, when I got to the airport yesterday, I had my 4 oz. saline solution in a separate plastic bag along with a copy of the email the TSA lady sent me. Ha! Just wait for those TSA people to challenge me. They didn’t bat an eye, and all went smooth as silk.

Yesterday’s travel was a very nice experience overall. Even the knives I packed in my checked baggage made it to my destination just fine. Apparently, there are lots of interesting items that you’re allowed to put in your checked baggage. Why was I carrying knives? I’m attending a three-day natural foods intensive cooking class in Philadelphia, and we were instructed to bring some of our own equipment.

I thought you might like to read the official email from TSA, so here it is:

Actual TSA Email Regarding Contact Saline Solution

   Thank you for your e-mail [it was a phone call, but anyhow. . .] regarding the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) policy for transporting contact lens solutions in carry-on baggage.  

   Passengers may bring prescriptions and over-the-counter medications (liquids, gels, and aerosols) including petroleum jelly, eye drops, and saline solutions for medical purposes into the sterile area.   

   Contact lens solutions are considered over-the-counter medications and are allowed in carry-on bags.  If the contact lens solution is 3.4 ounces or less, it may be placed in a quart-sized, resealable plastic bag along with other toiletries.  

   Passengers are not limited in the amount or volume of these items, however, if the contact lens solution or other medical items are in containers larger than 3.4 ounces, they must be placed in a bin with no other items and declared to the Transportation Security Officer for further inspection. These liquids are permitted to be carried in a plastic bag separate from other liquids, gels, and aerosols.

For the most current information on TSA security screening procedures, we encourage
travelers to visit our Web site at www.tsa.gov.  

We hope this information is helpful.  

TSA Contact Center  

[The Contact Center advised me about my contacts.]

 For a handy air-travel essentials packing list check out “7-Item Checklist for Air-Travel Essentials.”