TSA Regulations saline solution for contacts

They will not allow the 4oz saline thru in your carry on. You can buy a 3oz empty plastic bottle and put you saline in it.

I was on the TSA website yesterday to try to find a list of permitted items, and while I didn't find the list they used to provide, I came across this page:

http://www.tsa.gov/311/311-carry-ons.shtm

It specifically states that OTC eye drops and saline solution for medical purposes would be allowed in a reasonable quantity greater than 3 oz for the duration of your itinerary. However, since it isn't a comprehensive list and the writing is a bit ambiguous and possibly left to the interpretation of the TSA (or French) official, it may be worth either contacting the TSA prior to departure or transferring the saline into an empty approved 3 oz container.

Have a great trip!

Thanks for the advice!

Robin (and Angela), you should absolutely never transfer saline solution for contacts from its original bottle to another one! It is a sterile solution that is contaminated by being transferred to a nonsterile container. And according to the TSA website, larger quantities are allowed, and it doesn't have to be in your 3-1-1 bag, but you have to have it screened separately while going through security. The website says: "Declare larger liquids. Medications, baby formula and food, and breast milk are allowed in reasonable quantities exceeding three ounces and are not required to be in the zip-top bag. Declare these items for inspection at the checkpoint."

I also wear contacts and have had no trouble taking the 4oz. sized saline solution through TSA security.

I don't wear contacts but have some other prescription and OTC medications in liquid form. I put them in a large ziplock bag with my prescriptions and copies of my prescription labels. Labeled the bag Medications/Prescriptions. When I went through TSA, I pulled the 3-1-1 bag out and the larger bag. I told the guy it was prescriptions and medications. He said we don't need to see your medications. I put it back in my Civita bag and it went through the screening. No one said a word.

My daughter checked her luggage so she could take the bigger sized saline and cleaning solutions for a month's stay. This time she'll probably take the 4 oz bottles but they did not allow us to take anything over 3 oz on the trip to Mexico last year, so I will probably check at least two pieces of luggage.

A friend in the UK has asked for a particular brand of BBQ sauce that he can't get over there, so checking luggage helps at times like these :-)

As stated above, the 3 oz thing does not apply to contact solution (and other medically necessary liquids/gels). You must, however, place this separately from your other solutions and/or declare it in some way. I put all my contact stuff along with a prescription ointment that is well over the 3 oz size in a separate ziploc bag. I take this out, along with my ziploc that has my 3oz toiletries and put this in the bin for TSA. Have traveled this way many times in the past year, including Europe, no problem.

My best advice is stop by your eye doctor's office. They have the starter kits for contacts that include a small bottle of solution that should be perfect.

I don't know why they haven't started selling travel size contact solutions. I guess you could argue with TSA about whether it was a prescription that you need to carry. I'm not sure you would always win because you can always buy more at your destination.

I don't wear contacts now but I did for 26 years. I had a specific brand of contact solution that worked best for me. I tried others but my eyes burned. I would not venture off to Europe without my brand of contact solution because many brands are not available in Europe. Being on vacation is not a good time to try different contact lens solutions.

The starter kits are a great idea but you would probably need 2-3 of them for a long trip.