How to tell if contacts are inside out
It can be challenging to know if a soft contact lens is inside out. For one thing, you need that contact to see in the first place, so being told to look closely at a small, clear, curved object to determine which way it’s facing is a particularly cruel irony. We get it. We’re sorry. We’re here to help.
First, if you’re already wearing your contact lens…
If you think your contact is in inside out, know that it won’t do damage your eye. Whew. However, it won’t fit as well on your eye’s surface. It will likely be uncomfortable, move around more, and/or feel like you have something stuck in your eye. Other times, it’s subtle and may start to bother you only after the lens has been in for a few hours. HEADS UP: an inside-out lens is also more likely to pop out of your eye.
Interestingly, in most cases, an inside-out lens will not make your vision significantly more blurry.
Three tests: how to tell if your contact is inside out
The mixing bowl vs saucer test
Inspect the shape of the contact by placing it on your fingertip with all the edges up in the air. If it looks like a mixing bowl (edges pointing straight up), you’re good to go. If it looks like a saucer (edges turning downward), it’s inside out. You may need to flip the lens back and forth to compare.
Protip: put a towel over your sink, so if the lens falls, it’s easier to find.
The taco test
Tacos are delicious and can teach us many truths about life, including if your contact lens is inside out.
Start with the contact on the end of your finger with no edges touching the finger. Gently pinch/flex the lens. If it’s right-side out, the lens will flex easily, and edges will fold toward each other like…wait for it…a taco. If it’s inside out, the lens will be more resistant to folding, and the edges will curl outward at the top, like…not a taco.
The engraving test (AKA you’re desperate and/or a spy)
If mixing bowls and tacos haven’t helped you tell if your contact is inside out, we have one last thing you can try. It’s the act of a desperate person. But if you’re at that point, read on.
Some soft contact lenses have small letters or numbers engraved on the edge of the lens. (We assume this is how spies transfer launch codes across borders.) Hold the contact on the end of your finger toward a light source. If you look just below the edge on the outside of the lens while rotating it, you may be able to see these markings. If they’re there. Will they be? Who knows? Probably only the NSA.
If the lens is right-side up, the letters and numbers will read correctly. If the lens is inside out, the letters and numbers will be backwards. If the letters and numbers include hyphens, find your nearest fallout shelter. And now that they’re right-side out, learn how to put in your contacts.
Original published date: 1/24/2020
Updated: 7/6/2022