Whether you are a new contact lens wearer or you have been using them for years to correct your vision, you may be wondering how can you tell if a contact lens is inside out. If you suspect you may be wearing your contact lenses incorrectly or they just feel uncomfortable, here are some ways you can determine this to avoid the problem in the future.

Look at the Lens

Before placing the lens in your eye, hold it on the tip of your index finger and look at it carefully from the side. Is it shaped like the letter “U” or it is flared on the sides, like a soup bowl? The correct shape of a soft contact lens should be like the letter “U”. If its shaped like a soup bowl, then its inside out. Some people also recommend the “taco test” whereby you gently squeeze the lens so that the edges touch. If they touch completely, then the lens is right side out. If the edges flare out and dont touch fully, then its inside out. Simply flip the lens around and it will be positioned correctly for wearing.

Another way to determine if your contact lens is right side out is to look at it from the top. This is especially important if you are wearing the colored enhanced type. The edge of a tinted lens will be look very blue. If it looks greenish, then it is inverted and you should carefully flip the lens around in order to wear it properly.

Find the Engraving

Some contact lenses have factory engraving on them, done by special lasers. This can include the manufacturer information, model number, brand name or grade of materials used. While this is not detected by the human eye when wearing, it can be of help when trying to determine if you are wearing your contact lenses correctly. Some brands have a “1-2-3″ engraved on them, so you would make sure this is the side facing downwards on your finger as you place the contact into your eye. If you can read this label, then the lens is inside out. You can remove it safely without damaging your eyes and flip it around for replacement.

Ask the Professional

Of course, please check with your eye doctor if you experience any discomfort with your contacts. They can often help you more with this perplexing problem or demonstrate to you further what to do. Common sense should tell you if you are wearing your contact lens incorrectly. If they feel uncomfortable or you feel slight pressure on your eyes, its probably because you have placed the lenses incorrectly on your eyes. You may want to practice a little when first getting a new set of contact lenses to see what works best for you and to get used to the feel of them. Once you do, you should enjoy months of enjoyable experience with your new lenses.

A daily care routine is an essential part of owning Acuvue Oasys contact lenses. There are a few basic care needs that one should be aware before using these contact lenses. If you are unable to follow a routine, unable to insert and remove the lenses, or have another person insert and remove the lenses, then it would be wise to rethink the need or desire for contact lenses. If you are great at a routine then there are a few basics you will need to follow.

Before you go home for the first time with contact lenses, make sure you insert and remove them while you are still at the Optometrist or eye care specialists office as this will help clear up any questions. Before handling the lenses make sure your hands are washed and dried thoroughly. A common mistake that can be made is putting the lens in your mouth to lubricate or moisten it, or using tap water to clean or moisten the lens. Unfortunately, this could lead to accidentally swallowing the lens or dropping it into the sink drain. Also, tap water contains impurities that can contaminate the lens or could lead to eye infections, possibly even injuring the eye.

The first time you purchase a pair of lenses, be sure to get a recommended cleaning and disinfection routine as well as instructions about care, handling, and cleaning. The eye care specialist will be able to teach you about proper care procedures and will suggest the best products to use for the type of lenses you have. When you remove your lenses, they must be cleaned and disinfected before you put them back in your eyes.

In order to continue safe and comfortable wear of the lenses, it is important that you first clean, rinse, and disinfect your lenses after each removal. Be sure to do this by using the lens care products and procedures that have been originally recommended by your eye care specialist. Ideally, it is best to form the habit of cleaning of the lenses as soon as they are removed from your eyes. Cleaning and rinsing are needed to remove mucus, secretions, films and protein deposits that may have built up on your lenses during wear.

Always follow the set routine and use the recommended products to avoid any serious eye problems. If you wish to change products for some reason, it is highly recommended to consult with your eye care specialist about the product before doing so. There may be many reasons why you should not or cannot safely use the new product. Also, keep track of expiry dates on lenses and all the lens care products. Do not mix lens care systems with other products because not all products will be compatible with others.

Basic Cleaning Rules

- Always clean the same lens first to avoid mix-ups when the time comes to insert them again. – Always follow the instructions provided on the cleaning solution label and from the eye care specialist. – After the cleaning is completed, rinse the lens with the recommended rinsing solution to remove the cleaning solution as well as any mucus and film from the lens surface. – Once the process is completed, put the lens into the correct chamber of your lens storage case.

Disinfecting

- After the cleaning is completed, disinfect the lenses using the system recommended by your eye care specialist, following the instructions given and /or written on the product label. – When using hydrogen peroxide lens care systems, the lenses must first be neutralized before wearing. – Be sure to thoroughly rinse the lenses with a fresh solution before inserting and wearing your lenses. Take caution with lenses that are chemically disinfected, as they could absorb ingredients found in the solution. These chemicals could irritate the eye, so to avoid this, thoroughly rinse the lenses in a fresh and sterile saline solution just before inserting the lens in the eye.

Proper care of your Acuvue Oasys contact lens is a necessary responsibility. Cleaning is an important part of lens care. Improper cleaning can eventually ruin the lenses. To maintain fresh lenses, they must be cleaned, rinsed, and disinfected daily.