Soft contact lenses can sometimes feel a little uncomfortable if they aren’t sitting quite right. One possible reason is that they may be turned inside out.
In this ACUVUE® guide, we’ll help you spot the signs that your contact lenses are inside out, understand what that may feel like, and discover tips that ensure your contact lenses are in the right way.
Wearing your contact lenses the right way round ensures optimal comfort, clear vision, and preserves eye health.
Your contact lenses are designed to fit your eyes’ curvature in a specific way. And while occasionally putting in your contact lenses inside-out typically won’t cause any damage, an incorrect fit can disrupt this.
You should always wear your contact lenses the right way round. That’s because consistently wearing contact lenses inside-out could potentially lead to more serious issues over time, like corneal scratching.1
Always be mindful of how your contact lenses feel after you put them in, and if something feels unusual, it might be worth taking them out and checking they are the correct way around and re-applying them.
If you’re wearing your contact lenses inside-out, the lens won’t be able to sit properly on the eye. This can cause the lens to move around or even fall out. You may also experience:
The best way to tell if contact lenses are inside-out is to do a quick check for yourself. There are a few easy ways to go about this:
The taco test is a quick and easy trick to figure out if your contact lens is inside out. Just follow these steps:
This quick check helps you spot an inside-out lens just by looking at its edges. Here’s how to do it:
Simply:
Some manufacturers place laser markings on their contact lenses to help you easily recognise whether your contact lenses are inside-out or not. A common example is the marking of numbers ‘123’.
To locate the laser markings:
You don’t always have to take your lens out of your eye to check if it’s inside-out. The feel test lets you assess how the contact lens feels when it’s on your eye.
Here’s how it works:
When it comes to applying contact lenses, practice makes perfect. Putting in contact lenses inside-out is an easy mistake, but you can avoid doing it with a few simple tips and tricks:
Want a fool-proof way of putting your contact lenses in? Check out our guide on how to put in contact lenses.
All ACUVUE® contact lenses have UV Blocking to help provide protection against transmission of harmful UV radiation to the cornea and into the eye. UV absorbing contact lenses are NOT substitutes for protective UV absorbing eyewear such as UV absorbing goggles or sunglasses because they do not completely cover the eye and surrounding area. You should continue to use UV absorbing eyewear as directed by your optician.
*T&Cs apply: 1 trial per person. 18+. Professional consultation and fitting fees may apply and are not included. Subject to optician approval. Participating opticians only. For full terms and conditions see here.
Eye Health Central. Is my contact lens inside out. Published, 19 February 2024. Available at: https://www.contactlenses.co.uk/education/is-my-contact-lens-inside-out#:~:text=In%20most%20cases%2C%20wearing%20inside,Last%20modified:%207%20Jan%202025
Important Information for contact lens wearers: ACUVUE® Contact Lenses can be used for vision correction. An Eye Care Professional will determine whether contact lenses are right for you. Although rare, serious eye problems can develop while wearing contact lenses. To help avoid these problems, follow the wear and replacement schedule and instructions on proper lens care. Do not wear contact lenses if you have an eye infection, any eye disease or systemic disease that may affect the eye, or if you are allergic to any ingredients. If you experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems, remove the lens and contact your Eye Care Professional immediately. For detailed information on proper wear, care, warnings and precautions, talk to your Eye Care Professional and carefully read the Instructions for Use available on the Johnson & Johnson website https://www.e-ifu.com/
