UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

With the latest security alerts at airports and not being able to carry contact lens solutions in your hand luggage this is going to prove to be very difficult for those of us with KC who are unable to resort to glasses as a backup esprcially on long haul flights. If you remove your lenses because of dryness you aren't going to be able to replace them until you claim your luggage that is if you can see the luggage to find yours!

Perhaps it is time for each and everyone of us to write to our MP and/or Tony Blair, the Health Secretary and anyone else we can think of to get the solutions we need on prescription.

People with conditons requiring medication or special dietry needs can get these things through their doctors so WHY should we who need to use these medications, for that is what they are in the majority of cases, be discriminated against?

I appreciate that there are many different solutions out there but that shouldn't be a reason not to have them prescribed. Our needs must come first.

I'm going to write and I hope some of you will also, if we all do maybe, just maybe, something will be done.
I bet if any of the MPs have KC this would have been sorted out agrs ago.

That's my rant over.

Hope all is well with you John and Gareth keep up the good work.

Lesley.

oops is that a pig overhead?

Lesley, I can understand what you are saying. I can also understand why the govt has taken the measures they have. They mentioned in the news today that a couple were using their babies bottle to carry chemicals. I cannot understand how a parent could choose to sacrafice a child. But I am not in that mind set (thank God) I assume their are members of extremist groups who wear contact lenses, who would willingly use their solution bottles to take chemicals on a plane. If their was a way that with a drs note, and an unopened solution even if it has to be checked under a microscope and needs a special seal from the phamacist and cannot be opened until on the plane, maybe they could find a safe way of carrying it.
However as harsh at it may seem the inconvience of being lens less on a plan and requiring aid to find your bag is less than that of a potential terrorist blowing up a plane.
I dont think for a second you would, or any one on this site, but if a mother can choose to blow up her child, contact lens solution sounds very possible. I think maybe the airport needs to stock it and sell it to travellers who wish to tak it on board. Then they know it is ok.

Actually, there is another way round the problem. Carriers seem to manage to get all sorts of liquids onto their aircraft for their duty free trolly etc. Why not put pressure on them to have a small supply of contact lens fluid available for passengers in our position.

It may involve our declaring KC as a "special requirement" at the time of booking.

Andrew

Marian Bargery of the Midlands group is working closely with her local MP to be able to get some if not all our solutions on prescription.

It was suggested at the AGM in March we all write to our MP's however it was requested that we hold off doing this incase mixed messages were sent.

Marians MP is very sympathetic and understanding to our needs and I beleive that she is making progress.

As far as duty free and things purchased after you go through airport security, even these items are being removed from passengers and placed in the aircraft hold which is also adding to the delays.

Yes, that's why I think that contact lens fluids ought to ba available for purchase (or supply free on the same basis as bar drinks) ON the aircraft. That way the KC person with lens requirements would not have to carry liquids onto the aeroplane.

Andrew

The only problem with having it available ON the aircraft is the amount of solutions out there.

Which one gets put ON the aircraft for use by passengers.

maybe one way is to announce the need and which solution(s) needed/used at ticket purchase time so that the carrier can be prepared. Kinda like ensureing that a special diet is made available

damien

when I did long haul earlier this year ground crew were good, I had blind assistance booked and just explained I was partially sighted without lenses. Cabin crew not so good but this could vary with airlines

pease folks, do book in when you book your plane tickets as requiring special assistance.
And demand that you get what you need, if it isn't as forthcoming as it should be.
The more people who take this up, and explain the probelm of needing specialised contacts and fluids, the more the air transport industry will start to notice we exist.
[as regards babies' bottles - so you have a baby and take a bottle with you. And sit on the aircraft and creastfeed the baby. Who knows what is in the bottle?]
Rosemary

They are now making mothers drink the milk out of the bottle before they board the plane. What I could not understand was a mothers willingness to blow up her child.
Apparently eye drops can be carried on board as long as now more than 4oz.