Have you ever accidentally worn a shirt inside out? Or perhaps I should just be asking, are you human? It happens to everyone once in a blue moon. And sure, it’s a little embarrassing when someone lets you know that you dressed carelessly that morning, but fortunately, it’s a superficial problem that can easily be remedied. If you accidentally wear a contact lens inside out, on the other hand, you’ll probably notice that something’s off immediately. Your vision will undoubtedly be affected. But how can you know for sure that your contact’s orientation is to blame? Scroll down to learn how to tell if your contacts are inside out.
Tips to Check Your Contact Orientation
As most contact wearers choose to use soft, flexible lenses, the risk of accidentally turning a contact lens inside out is high. And even experienced contact lens wearers sometimes struggle to orient their contact lenses correctly. Typically, you’ll notice that something is amiss soon after inserting your contacts. Discomfort, pain, and blurriness are all common signs that your contact lens is inside out. But these symptoms aren’t unique to an inside-out contact. If you’re wondering how to tell if your contacts are inside out, try the following tests:
Do the edges curve directly up or curl out?
Place the contact lens on the tip of your finger and view it from the side. Does it look somewhat like a cup with upright edges? It’s in the correct position. Do the edges curl out a little, somewhat like a rimmed bowl? It’s inside out, and you need to flip it before inserting it again. If you’re struggling to imagine these shapes, check out this illustration from All About Vision. Most contact lens wearers prefer this quick and easy method when trying to discern if their contacts are oriented correctly.
What happens when you fold it like a taco?
The “taco test” is another handy test that experienced contact lens wearers are typically familiar with. First, carefully place the contact lens between the tips of your forefinger and thumb. Then, softly pinch the contact as if you’re folding it into a taco. If the edges curl inward and make a nice taco shape, it’s correctly oriented. If it flattens against your fingers, bending outwards, it’s inside out.
Does your lens have markings or tinted edges?
Some manufacturers mark their contacts so that it’s easy to tell if they’re inside out. Typically, they’ll use a few numbers (like 1-2-3) or a brief word (like OK). If your lenses include this handy feature, check to see if the numbers/letters read correctly. If they’re backward, the lens is inside out and needs to be reoriented.
Other manufacturers mark the edges of the contacts. With this approach, the edges are typically tinted blue or green. If you view them from above, you should see the tinted edge. If you don’t see the tinted edges, they’re inside out. Flip them over. Do you see the tinted edges now?
For people who frequently struggle with inside-out lenses, these manufacturer markings can be very handy.
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All contact lens wearers occasionally insert an inside-out contact lens. But with our handy tips, you can avoid this annoying (and sometimes painful) issue.
Are you in need of a new contact lens prescription? If you live near southwest Missouri, contact Heffington’s. Since 1975, the Heffington family has been assisting the Springfield community with top-quality eye care and affordable eyeglasses and contacts. One of the unique features of our family-owned business is that we manufacture lenses at our own laboratory, giving us total control over the service and pricing, and we’re happy to pass our savings on to you. To learn more about our products and services, please get in touch with us online, send an email to [email protected], or give us a call at 417-869-3937 (Optiland location) or 417-882-3937 (House of Vision location). We look forward to hearing from you!