👁️ Contact lens solution

Contact lens solution qualifies as a medically necessary liquid and is exempt from the 100ml carry-on rule, so a full-size bottle should be allowed through as long as you declare it separately at the checkpoint. Without declaring it, a large bottle may be pulled for inspection when screeners see it on the X-ray. Simply remove it from your bag and tell the officer it is a medically necessary liquid before it goes through the scanner.

The exemption for medically necessary liquids is recognized across all 14 regions we cover, so you can generally carry a full-size bottle of contact lens solution in carry-on regardless of where you are flying from. However, some regions may ask for supporting documentation such as a prescription or optometrist letter to confirm the medical necessity. Having a letter is optional in the US but can help avoid questions at stricter airports.

Simply tell the officer before the X-ray that you have a medically necessary liquid to declare, and identify it as contact lens solution required for a vision impairment. Place it in a separate bin outside your clear liquids bag to make it easy for the screener to examine. An optometrist letter or prescription adds credibility if you are traveling through airports where officers are more thorough.

Carry-on is always the better choice for contact lens solution because you need access to it during a long flight and you do not want to risk your checked bag being delayed or lost without it. Pack it within easy reach and declare it at the security checkpoint rather than burying it in your bag. A backup travel-size bottle in your toiletries bag is a useful fallback if your main bottle is questioned.