RGP Lenses and Plane Travel

[PeterO]

Hi,

I travel all the time short haul, and long haul with my job, and as a lens wearer it was obviously concerning when they banned fluids on a flight. I basically travel now with a large number of the one-shot eye drops in various pockets, and in my hand luggage, as well as at least a couple of lens holders with wetting/storage solution inside. I have had absolutely no problem with this at all, and even if they do ask about them, the worst I have had to do is put them in a clear plastic bag, and have them scanned seperately.
Like most of us, I am technically blind without mylenses, and as such I prefer to keep them in, and keep them lubricated during the flight. I agree with the point on turbulence, and just general lack of space etc. on a flight, with regards taking them out, and realistically if you drop it, the chances of finding it again are small.

Good luck with your flight

Peter

[Louise Pembroke]

I won't transfer saline into the 100 ml or less travel bottles because they are not sterile. I take a small botle of hypromellose for comfort and take the lens out at the seat when I need to. You can tell the airline when you check in that you will need 'blind assistance' by ground staff when you land, the one advantage being that you go ahead of any queues

[Lesley Foster]

I have just returned from a holiday which involved at least five flights of five or more hours. I take my lenses out while sitting in my seat and when I need to replace them I use the toilet (not literally!) yes it is a bit cramped but at least there is a shelf to put your stuff on. I buy 100ml bottles of saline and my optician gets me the smallest bottle of Quattro which is about 120mls but size wise the same as the saline. I also take a covering letter from my specialist in case there are any problems. I have a small towel to put over the sink to catch my lenses if I drop them. All this is in a clear plastic bag in my hand luggage. If travelling on my own I request assistance and let the cabin staff know that I have removed my lenses.

Although I now use scleral lenses I used to follow the same routine when I wore corneal lenses.

Lesley.

[Lesley Foster]

Peter,

One of my corneal lenses fell out while on a trip to the States and landed on a chap sitting close by. My husband explaoned what had happened and the man sat patiently whilst my husband "frisked" him needless to say he didn't find it. However, my husband is nothing if not persistant and when the plane landed waited until everyone was off to search again, this time he found the lens, it had fallen under the seat where the chap had been sitting. Relief for me and smugness from him!

Lesley.

[Louise Pembroke]

Lesley where do you get 100 ml bottles of saline? I've only seen 120 mls, not 100 mls.
I couldn't manage doing a lens in the toilet admire your skill!

[Lesley Foster]

My mistake, the saline is in 120ml bottles and the quatrro in 100ml, sorry.
The amount may be 120ml but the bottles are the same size and having just checked the amount printed on it so small that it is difficult to read, the quatrro bottle does clearly state 100ml.

Like you Louise I would never contemplate transferring any of the fluids into other bottles because they aren't sterile.

Lesley.