4 Ways To Determine If Your Contacts Are Inside Out
Contact lenses are thin and can be easily flipped inside out. If you put on the contacts in this condition, you can experience pain and discomfort. If you are new to wearing contacts, determining whether or not your lenses are inside out can be challenging sometimes. Before putting on the contacts, here are some ways you can tell if they are in the correct position.
Pinch the Contacts
When you pinch disposable contact lenses together between the tips of your fingers, they tend to conical shape. In essence, it looks like a taco shell. By contrast, when you pinch it and the edges tend to flare out, the lens is inside out.
If you use this method, be sure to pinch the lens in from the middle. The lens are extremely pliable so do not worry about tearing it.
Look for the Tinted Edges
Since contact lenses turning inside out is such a common occurrence, manufacturers began to mark the lenses to make it easier to determine if they are in the correct position. Some manufacturers use tinted edges as their marking.
If your lens has a blue or green tint on the edge, you can determine if it is inside out by lying it in the palm of your hand and looking down at it. If the tint is visible, the lens is in the correct position. However, if you cannot see it, turn over the lens.
Evaluate the Side of the Contact
As you become more familiar with the shape of your contact lenses, you can better judge whether it is inside out simply by looking at the side of a lens. Hold the lens on the tip of your finger and look at it from the side.
If the edges are cup-shaped, the lens is in the correct position for use. However, if the lens looks as if the edges are flattened, it needs to be flipped before you can use it.
Check the Numbers
Depending on the type of contact lenses you have, figuring out whether or not a lens is inside out could be as simple as checking for numbers. Some manufacturers place a 1-2-3 directly on the lenses.
You can hold a lens up to light and look for the numbers. If the numbers are backwards, the lens is inside out.
There are many other tricks you can use to make sure you have your contact lenses properly placed. Talk to a contact supplier, like Ballard Optical or a similar location, for more help and info.