Tulips

ReNu now do a special travel size pack, plastic zip-lock bag included.

slangevar

Good plan, cindysphinx! While you could have problems bringing a large bottle back to the states in your carryon, I haven't had any problems getting my saline through security in the US. I just make sure I show it to them every time and they generally look at me like I'm crazy and wave me through.

scat_cat

I used to use Clear Care, but it's not widely available where I live (NW US) anymore, so my eye doctor switched me to the very similar Sauflon One Step, which is from a UK company. I believe it's sold in the UK under the name Sauflon Multi (http://www.sauflon.com/sauflon-multi.html). That's also a peroxide solution, and comes with a identical-looking catalyst container. Good luck!

rbnwdln

I had no trouble carrying on a large container of contact lens solution on our trip to Italy in June. BUT when we went through security leaving Rome the security person wanted to take it from me. I tried to explain that it is exempt but she wasn't convinced. She finally asked her supervisor who let me take it with. Oy.

BTilke

I looked at the contact lens cleaners available in a pharmacy near us (in Maidenhead) yesterday. A small pharmacy, not a big Boots. The only hydrogen peroxide (3%) cleaner they carried was called OxySept1 and what they labeled as a 30 day supply (a fairly large bottle) was priced at £9.99 (for comparison to what you already use).
I'll be in a Boots today and will check to see what they have, inc. bottle sizes and prices.

BTilke

Boots carried a 250 ml bottle of AOSept Plus (sensitive eyes) for £9.99 (a small lens case was included). They also had a complete kit (whatever that entails, I couldn't open the box) for £26. Waitrose carried the same size bottle of AOSept Plus for £8.99. Boots also had its own generic version retailing at £10.69 for a 350 ml bottle. And a kit for £30.

rkkwan

9.99GBP vs ~$8 in the US. Another indication how expensive the UK is.

cindysphinx

Boy.

After all this consultation on Fodors and reading the TSA web site, i decided that bringing aosep solution wouldn't be a problem. It is, after all, optical solution and thus exempt from the 3-ounce requirement. Right? Right?

So I get to security and put two things into the grey security Xray bin: my quart bag with stuff like shampoo and lotion, and another ziploc bag containing a 12-ounce size of aosep and a 4-ounce bottle of no-rub solution. The optical solutions still had their plastic thingies on them showing they were brand new.

They pulled me aside and performed some sort of test, wiping the aosep bottle and checking for explosive residue or whatever. And then the supervisor came over and declared that i could not take the 12-ounce bottle on board.

I calmly referred to the TSA rule allowing optical solution. No dice. The supervisor said that I was only allowed to bring liquids that i might need during the flight. Since I don't need 12 ounces of aosep for the flight, i couldn't bring it. Nor could i pour some of it out. My only choice was to leave security and check a bag with the aosep in it, which i wasn't willing to do.

Now. I did not want to get belligerant and make a scene and get wrestled to the ground. But the TSA supervisor had to be wrong. They let people bring all kinds of liquids on the plane without regard to whether they will need them on the flight. When was the last time someone needed shampoo on a flight? Besides, if optical solutions are exempt from the 3-ounce requirement, THEN THEY ARE EXEMPT FROM THE 3-OUNCE REQUIREMENT!!!!

Anyway, I took your excellent advice and walked around Islington until I ran into an optician, where I bought a 12-ounce bottle for maybe 10 pounds.

I'm still rather peeved about hearing that gigantic 'thunk' sound when my brand new bottle of aosep hit the bottom of that trash can, however.

rkkwan

The exemption for the 3-oz rule for contact lens solution is that you can bring 4-oz! Not 12oz. The TSA agent is absolutely correct for not letting you bring it onboard.

No one here ever says you can bring 12oz of contact lens solution.

GEsssa

Clear Care comes in 4 oz bottles and I have not been hasled with carrying on one bottle of that. Also, you can take a larger bottle of AO Sept or Clear Care in your checked luggage. I also do that. I have found AO Sept in Israel though I had to locate some specific places that sold it. When I was recently in Scotland, I found a contact lense type store almost on every block in downtown areas. I have a recollection that I checked if they had AO Sept or Clear Care and they did though I am not positive and I also brought enough with me. I think there is a good likelyhood that you will find either Clear Care or AO Sept in London. I have found with experience that even using Clear Care, I also have to use my usual Opticlean II cleansing solution.

Barry

freeman0819

I have gotten through security with over the size limit liquids- wasn't trying to sneak anything through- just forget about a small bottle of water or perfume in a carry on. I think it depends on who you get at the security checkpoint.

She should have checked it, but now she knows, right? Too bad it was a 10pound lesson!

deladeb

2 4 ounce bottles of clear care lasted me 3 weeks (this summer in Norway/Sweden)

suze

I don't understand why you didn't check a piece of luggage in the first place when you knew all along this could well be a problem.

cindysphinx

4-ounce bottle of Aosep? Sorry, never seen it. Ever. If they sell such a thing where you live, more power to ya.

Why didn't I check luggage? With BA flying cargo jets in a pathetic attempt to get luggage to people, I think it would be insane to check luggage.

rkkwan

When traveling, I have used 4oz bottles AOSept, and now 4oz bottles of Clear Care, since I started wearing contact lens over 10 years ago. Way before July of last year, or 9/11.

They are the "starter" kit one get at a drug store.