contact lens wearers
Aug 12th, 2006, 05:05 PM
#1
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contact lens wearers
I am a contact lens wearer who is legally blind without my contact lenses. On a long flight, I need to take my contact lenses out to rest my eyes and sleep. I am leaving for Switzerland (from the US) on August 29th and have contacted my air carrier requesting that they have contact lens solution on board for me to purchase if I cannot bring it onboard in my carryon bag. If anyone else agrees with me that this would be a good idea, please contact airlines and encourage this.
Thanks,
Martha
Thanks,
Martha
Aug 12th, 2006, 05:32 PM
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Aug 12th, 2006, 05:41 PM
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I wore contact lenses for 20 years before lasik so I understand your concerns. Do you not have a pair of glasses you could change into at the airport before you fly (and before you check your bags) and then have your contacts ready to go when you arrive?
Have to say - it seems like there is going to be an entire new market opportunity to sell things outside airports!
Have to say - it seems like there is going to be an entire new market opportunity to sell things outside airports!
Aug 12th, 2006, 05:59 PM
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I also have contact lens, and am legally blind in one eye without some lenses, but I also have glasses to wear, which I prefer to do on flights, anyway. Surely you can wear some glasses, can't you? I would think you should be carrying an extra pair of glasses with you, in any case, as something can always happen that you can't wear contact lenses, and just for a backup. I am not going to write to airlines to encourage this as I don't think it is necessary. I would never accept contact lens solution from someone else, in any case. YOu don't need contact lens solution to put in lenses, anyway, you just need sterilized water. Now I now you can't carry that on board, either, but requiring airlines to carry contact lens solution isn't necessary.
Aug 12th, 2006, 06:06 PM
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While I prefer to wear glasses for long flights, I have NO INTENTION of checking my lenses...what if they don't arrive??? No, they stay with me. In their little containers filled with lense solution.
Aug 12th, 2006, 06:12 PM
#7
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The most important thing is being on a safe flight, but I agree, this is the one issue that is bothering me most on my upcoming trip. I have disposable lenses which I change every month. I could wear the lenses I already have in my eyes, take them out to sleep, and put new ones in the next day. But, do you suppose they'll let me bring the new lenses on, each enclosed in their little sealed package w/ just a teaspoon or so of saline? annieladd
Aug 12th, 2006, 06:19 PM
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annielad,
I've go the same situation, I wear tje daily lens...I wonder if those are allowed in carry on....I also worry about if I were to check them in...god forbid they don't make it...I always put them in my carry on....I'm blind as a bat without them and simply don't see as well with glasses... I'm not flying to Venice 9/30, hopefully, things will have gotten a bit more reasonable by then....not allowing the tiny teeny bit of solution that are in the container of the lenses...reminds me of now allowing tweezers on board...a bit much...but we'll see and I'll deal with it somehow, some way.
I've go the same situation, I wear tje daily lens...I wonder if those are allowed in carry on....I also worry about if I were to check them in...god forbid they don't make it...I always put them in my carry on....I'm blind as a bat without them and simply don't see as well with glasses... I'm not flying to Venice 9/30, hopefully, things will have gotten a bit more reasonable by then....not allowing the tiny teeny bit of solution that are in the container of the lenses...reminds me of now allowing tweezers on board...a bit much...but we'll see and I'll deal with it somehow, some way.
Aug 12th, 2006, 06:39 PM
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I'm in the same boat too. I don't want to wear glasses for the entire journey nor do I wish to check in my contact lenses in my luggage. I've actually done it before and will most likely do it again and just keep on the lenses for the 10.5 plus hours I need to travel. The rewetting solution never helped much before anyway and since that won't be allowed onboard I'll just do without it too.
Hopefully these restrictions will relax a little by the time I'm ready to travel in a couple of months.
Hopefully these restrictions will relax a little by the time I'm ready to travel in a couple of months.
Aug 12th, 2006, 07:01 PM
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I can tell you that you won't be able to take contact lens solution onboard aircraft, not for a long time, and maybe not ever. If there is one thing that will hold a permanent ban in carry-ons, it will most likely be this-and you need only look up the wikipedia article on 'OPLAN BOJINKA" to understand why-the foiled Bojinka plot is the model for the present British plot to use explosive liquids to blow up airplanes-when you read the following account of what was found in Manila in 1995 after that plot was disrupted, you'll know why airports all over the world are now banning liquids and gels:-an excerpt:
Evidence in Suite 603
When the officers returned to Suite 603 at 2:30 a.m. on January 7, they found: street maps of Manila with routes plotting the papal motorcade, a rosary, a photograph of the pontiff, bibles, crucifixes, papal confessions, and priest clothings, including robes and collars. This collection of objects and a phone message from a tailor reminding the occupant that 'the cassock was ready to be tried on', along with the fact of the Pope's impending visit, was enough for the chief inspector to infer that an assassination plot had been interrupted. A search warrant was granted by 4 A.M on January 7. [1] [3]
More chemicals, such as gallons of sulfuric, picric, and nitric acid, pure glycerin, acetone, sodium trichlorate, nitrobenzoyl, ammonia, silver nitrates, methanamine, and ANFO were found. Several cans of gasoline and two large Welch's grape juice bottles containing nitroglycerin were found. Clearly, the fire in the apartment had been the result of accidental chemistry in the kitchen sink. Equipment such as thermometers, graduated cylinders, large cooking kettles, funnels, fuses, filters, soldering irons, beakers, mortars, pestles, different electronic fusing systems, timers, switches, circuit breakers, and a box of Rough Rider lubricated condoms were found. Also discovered in the search was a finished remote control brass pipe bomb, as well as another pipe bomb that was about to be packed. The apartment also contained a chemistry textbook and a chemical dictionary, a TIME magazine with the cover story on international terrorism, [1] [3] [4] as well as a pharmacy receipt and bottle of contact lens solution.In a cupboard under the sink was a finished time bomb and other Casio watches were found.
The most conclusive piece of evidence found so far was a manual written in Arabic on how to build a liquid bomb.
Stacks of 12 false passports, including Norwegian, Afghan, Saudi, Pakistan were also found in the apartment. Investigators found a business card from Mohammed Jamal Khalifa. Saeed apparently possessed five telephone numbers from Khalifa. investigators also found phone numbers from Rose Masquera, Mohammed's girlfriend. [1]
Yousef's Computer
Yousef's pet project was discovered on four floppy diskettes and an off-white Toshiba laptop personal computer inside his apartment, two weeks before the plot would have been implemented. Several encrypted files on the C: Drive contained flight schedules, calculations of detonation times, and other items. [12] The first string of text in one of the files states, "All people who support the U.S. government are our targets in our future plans and that is because all those people are responsible for their government's actions and they support the U.S. foreign policy and are satisfied with it. We will hit all U.S. nuclear targets. If the U.S. government keeps supporting Israel, then we will continue to carry out operations inside and outside the United States to include ..." and the text ends.
A file named "Bojinka" lists the eleven flights between Asia and the United States, which were grouped under five codenames. Strings were found, such as "SETTING: 9:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.. TIMER: 23HR. BOJINKA: 20:30-21:30 NRT Date 5" (for United flight 80), and "SETTING: 8:30-9:00. TIMER: 10HR. BOJINKA: 19:30-20:00 NRT Date 4" (for Northwest Flight 30). [1]
The laptop had names of dozens of associates, including some photographs of a few of them and including contact information for Mohammed Jamal Khalifa. They contained records of information about five-star hotels, dealings with a London trading corporation, a meat market owner in Malaysia, and an Islamic center in Tucson, Arizona. Information about how money moved through an Abu Dhabi banking firm was found.
And this is just the public information! You can read more at the wikipedia link.
Mjnbrown-every person who wears contact lenses has to have a back-up pair of glasses-even if you don't see as well with the glasses-you're going to have to wear them until you land, and can get access to your contact lens and solution.
I really don't think the airlines are going to be carrying contact lens solution, because of the danger that any brought on by the carriers could just as likely be contaminated with other substances, as your own could be-but maybe some accomodation for pax may eventually be worked out on this score by the TSA, but this isn't going to happen very soon.
I know how very very hard this is, but we are dealing here with such an imminent danger-on such a huge scale, and we do not know yet what we do not know-I feel very strongly that some of the plotters are still out there waiting until things die down before they can modify their original plan and keep going, more determined than ever to carry out an attack, and it could well be surface-based the next time, simply because they will not be able to get on board an aircraft with explosive materials, either on the person, or in parts-they just won't be able to. Those beautiful little puffer machines that are showing up all over the country at the nation's airports will detect even the most microscopic particles of explosives anywhere on a person's body or clothes-they are truly a technological godsend on the aviation security front at this time.
So we all are going to have to tough it out for a few hours- until we get to Europe, which really isn't that long of a flight-just think if you were flying to Asia-now THOSE flights really will be a hardship without toiletries!
Evidence in Suite 603
When the officers returned to Suite 603 at 2:30 a.m. on January 7, they found: street maps of Manila with routes plotting the papal motorcade, a rosary, a photograph of the pontiff, bibles, crucifixes, papal confessions, and priest clothings, including robes and collars. This collection of objects and a phone message from a tailor reminding the occupant that 'the cassock was ready to be tried on', along with the fact of the Pope's impending visit, was enough for the chief inspector to infer that an assassination plot had been interrupted. A search warrant was granted by 4 A.M on January 7. [1] [3]
More chemicals, such as gallons of sulfuric, picric, and nitric acid, pure glycerin, acetone, sodium trichlorate, nitrobenzoyl, ammonia, silver nitrates, methanamine, and ANFO were found. Several cans of gasoline and two large Welch's grape juice bottles containing nitroglycerin were found. Clearly, the fire in the apartment had been the result of accidental chemistry in the kitchen sink. Equipment such as thermometers, graduated cylinders, large cooking kettles, funnels, fuses, filters, soldering irons, beakers, mortars, pestles, different electronic fusing systems, timers, switches, circuit breakers, and a box of Rough Rider lubricated condoms were found. Also discovered in the search was a finished remote control brass pipe bomb, as well as another pipe bomb that was about to be packed. The apartment also contained a chemistry textbook and a chemical dictionary, a TIME magazine with the cover story on international terrorism, [1] [3] [4] as well as a pharmacy receipt and bottle of contact lens solution.In a cupboard under the sink was a finished time bomb and other Casio watches were found.
The most conclusive piece of evidence found so far was a manual written in Arabic on how to build a liquid bomb.
Stacks of 12 false passports, including Norwegian, Afghan, Saudi, Pakistan were also found in the apartment. Investigators found a business card from Mohammed Jamal Khalifa. Saeed apparently possessed five telephone numbers from Khalifa. investigators also found phone numbers from Rose Masquera, Mohammed's girlfriend. [1]
Yousef's Computer
Yousef's pet project was discovered on four floppy diskettes and an off-white Toshiba laptop personal computer inside his apartment, two weeks before the plot would have been implemented. Several encrypted files on the C: Drive contained flight schedules, calculations of detonation times, and other items. [12] The first string of text in one of the files states, "All people who support the U.S. government are our targets in our future plans and that is because all those people are responsible for their government's actions and they support the U.S. foreign policy and are satisfied with it. We will hit all U.S. nuclear targets. If the U.S. government keeps supporting Israel, then we will continue to carry out operations inside and outside the United States to include ..." and the text ends.
A file named "Bojinka" lists the eleven flights between Asia and the United States, which were grouped under five codenames. Strings were found, such as "SETTING: 9:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.. TIMER: 23HR. BOJINKA: 20:30-21:30 NRT Date 5" (for United flight 80), and "SETTING: 8:30-9:00. TIMER: 10HR. BOJINKA: 19:30-20:00 NRT Date 4" (for Northwest Flight 30). [1]
The laptop had names of dozens of associates, including some photographs of a few of them and including contact information for Mohammed Jamal Khalifa. They contained records of information about five-star hotels, dealings with a London trading corporation, a meat market owner in Malaysia, and an Islamic center in Tucson, Arizona. Information about how money moved through an Abu Dhabi banking firm was found.
And this is just the public information! You can read more at the wikipedia link.
Mjnbrown-every person who wears contact lenses has to have a back-up pair of glasses-even if you don't see as well with the glasses-you're going to have to wear them until you land, and can get access to your contact lens and solution.
I really don't think the airlines are going to be carrying contact lens solution, because of the danger that any brought on by the carriers could just as likely be contaminated with other substances, as your own could be-but maybe some accomodation for pax may eventually be worked out on this score by the TSA, but this isn't going to happen very soon.
I know how very very hard this is, but we are dealing here with such an imminent danger-on such a huge scale, and we do not know yet what we do not know-I feel very strongly that some of the plotters are still out there waiting until things die down before they can modify their original plan and keep going, more determined than ever to carry out an attack, and it could well be surface-based the next time, simply because they will not be able to get on board an aircraft with explosive materials, either on the person, or in parts-they just won't be able to. Those beautiful little puffer machines that are showing up all over the country at the nation's airports will detect even the most microscopic particles of explosives anywhere on a person's body or clothes-they are truly a technological godsend on the aviation security front at this time.
So we all are going to have to tough it out for a few hours- until we get to Europe, which really isn't that long of a flight-just think if you were flying to Asia-now THOSE flights really will be a hardship without toiletries!
Aug 12th, 2006, 07:08 PM
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Please do not be the person stanfdng ahead of me in the security line trying to convince the TSA employee that the rules - clearly posted and publicized - apply to everyone else but not to you.
Read it, follow it, or find another form of transporation. Next!
Read it, follow it, or find another form of transporation. Next!
Aug 12th, 2006, 07:54 PM
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No one is saying that the rules have to be different for them....we are all trying to get answers. This is new to everyone and some of the things that we all took for granted now may be banned....therefore, we need answers and the only way to get them is to ask questions.
As for the person who said that the flight wasn't that long to Europe...where do you live? I personally have a 5 hour flight from the west coast to the east coast and then a 8 - 10 flight depending on where I'm going. This time in addition I have a 6 hour layover in Atlanta and then a 10 hour flight to Venice...that is a total of 21 hours, plus the 2 - 3 hours waiting at my originating airport...if I am concerned about contact lenses, there's a reason.
Though I kid about being without lip gloss or hand lotion, I don't really care, because not having those two doesn't prohibit me from functioning. However, not seeing a foot in front of me does prohibit from functioning...or with glasses not seeing as well also prohibits me from functioning.
I don't expect for the authorities to give me a free pass and I will abide by whatever rule is in place, however, it is perfectly normal to try and get answers.
As for the person who said that the flight wasn't that long to Europe...where do you live? I personally have a 5 hour flight from the west coast to the east coast and then a 8 - 10 flight depending on where I'm going. This time in addition I have a 6 hour layover in Atlanta and then a 10 hour flight to Venice...that is a total of 21 hours, plus the 2 - 3 hours waiting at my originating airport...if I am concerned about contact lenses, there's a reason.
Though I kid about being without lip gloss or hand lotion, I don't really care, because not having those two doesn't prohibit me from functioning. However, not seeing a foot in front of me does prohibit from functioning...or with glasses not seeing as well also prohibits me from functioning.
I don't expect for the authorities to give me a free pass and I will abide by whatever rule is in place, however, it is perfectly normal to try and get answers.
Aug 12th, 2006, 09:44 PM
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Just read this on Delta's website:
"Spectacles and sunglasses without cases and contact lens holders without bottles of solution."
Could we interpret this that disposable lenses in their container with the tiny of solution are allowed? It's really not clear, and unfortunately, I think it might be left to the interpretation of the individual worker checking you through the airport. I guess it's a matter of 'stay tuned?'
"Spectacles and sunglasses without cases and contact lens holders without bottles of solution."
Could we interpret this that disposable lenses in their container with the tiny of solution are allowed? It's really not clear, and unfortunately, I think it might be left to the interpretation of the individual worker checking you through the airport. I guess it's a matter of 'stay tuned?'
Aug 12th, 2006, 09:51 PM
#15
Lyb: Elsewhere it says - <u>no liquids</u>. Siince the screeners will obviously open your contact lens kit to check it -- it seems that either the liquid will be drained out -- or contaminated.
So take glasses on board -- at least until the rules get modified.
So take glasses on board -- at least until the rules get modified.
Aug 12th, 2006, 10:55 PM
#16
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janisj,
it's not a contact kit. the contacts are in individual little pod with a teaspoon worth of solution, at the most, to keep the lens moist. I wear the contact for a day and it is thrown out at the of the day.
I always take my glasses with me and I'm not worried about during the flight, I am concerned about having my luggage lost and then not having contacts for the rest of my vacation because my contacts were in the suitcase. It is basically like medicine, you might be able to do without for 8 - 12 hours, but if the prescription gets lost, it is damaging not to have it for a long time.
it's not a contact kit. the contacts are in individual little pod with a teaspoon worth of solution, at the most, to keep the lens moist. I wear the contact for a day and it is thrown out at the of the day.
I always take my glasses with me and I'm not worried about during the flight, I am concerned about having my luggage lost and then not having contacts for the rest of my vacation because my contacts were in the suitcase. It is basically like medicine, you might be able to do without for 8 - 12 hours, but if the prescription gets lost, it is damaging not to have it for a long time.
Aug 12th, 2006, 11:20 PM
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Perhaps with the next pair of lenses (ie daily/weekly or monthly) you could wear a pair on the plane or glasses and bring the SEALED lenses for after the flight has ended (package has never been opened?) Otherwise I would say you may have to take your chances with lost luggage. You should never really wear lenses for over 12 hours if possible - at least that is what my optician told me! So I recently purchased new glasses (needed) and only wear them mornings and nigh time when my lenses are not in. I have no problems wearing glasses on a flight and if I happen to dose off my lenses get all dry anyway.
Good luck and please keep me posted!
Good luck and please keep me posted!
