How to tell if your contact lenses are inside out

Inserting a contact lens the wrong way round doesn’t just make the lens ineffective at correcting vision. It can be an uncomfortable experience, and may cause damage to your eye if worn for long periods of time.

It can be difficult to tell when your contact lenses are inside out, unless you know what to look out for. This article takes a look at several methods you can use to ensure your lenses are the correct way round, every time.

Wash your hands with antibacterial soap and dry them with a clean, lint-free towel before handling contact lenses.

Side look

1. Find a well-lit area and put your contact lens on the tip of your finger, so that the edges are pointing upwards.
2. Bring your finger down to eye level.
3. Look at your lens. If the sides are rolled along the edge or folded up, then they’re inside out.

The ‘taco’ test

1. Hold a lens near its centre, between the tips of your forefinger and thumb.
2. Gently squeeze the lens as if you were trying to fold it in half.
3. While squeezing, look at the edge of the lens. If it’s pointing upwards, or if the edges appear to meet, then the lens is the correct way around. If it bends outwards towards your finger and thumb, then the lens is inside out.

Check laser markings

Some of the best contact lenses have small laser markings, which can help you when checking if the lens is inside out. Usually, this will take the form of a sequence of numbers and/or letters.

1. Place your lens on the tip of your finger.
2. Hold the lens up to a bright light.
3. If the number/letter sequence reads correctly, then the lens is properly oriented.
4. If the number/letter sequence is in reverse, the lens is inside out.

If you are experiencing problems with your contact lenses we recommend that you book an appointment with your optician. If you are an existing customer with Lenstore in the UK you are eligible for a free appointment with Vision Express (click here to request an appointment).