What Really Happens If You Wear Contact Lenses Inside Out?

Wearing a contact lens inside out is one of the most common concerns among lens wearers. If you've accidentally put your contact lens inside out, you're probably wondering whether it's dangerous. This guide, written by an experienced optician, explains exactly what happens when you wear an inside out contact lens.

If you're wearing a contact lens inside out right now:

Wearing a contact lens inside out is uncomfortable but not dangerous. An inside out contact lens won't damage your eye or cause permanent harm. You'll likely experience discomfort, blurry vision, and lens movement, but these symptoms resolve once you remove contact lenses properly and correctly reinsert the lens.

How I Know: 15 Years of Hearing "My Contacts Feel Funny"

As an optician with over 15 years of experience, I've heard countless variations of "my contacts feel weird." One in three new contact lens wearers experiences the inside out contact lens situation at least once during their first month. Just last week, a patient came in convinced she had an eye infection, her left lens was inside out for three hours. Once corrected, symptoms disappeared immediately.

The Immediate Sensations (First 30 Minutes)

What Your Eye Actually Feels

When you first insert an inside out contact lens, you might not notice immediately. Some people wear them for hours, whilst others feel discomfort within minutes. The sensation typically includes:

• Persistent awareness that something is "not quite right"

• Mild to moderate discomfort (not sharp pain)

• Feeling that the lens is perched rather than settled

• Increased blinking

• Slight scratchiness or irritation

Why Inside-Out Lenses Don't Sit Properly

A contact lens has specific curvature designed to match your eye's shape. When you put a contact lens inside out, the curve is reversed. The lens edges curl outward instead of tucking under your eyelids, causing poor lens centration, edge awareness, reduced vision quality, and unstable positioning.

Common Descriptions from Patients

• "It feels like there's an eyelash stuck under my lens"

• "My lens keeps moving around when I blink"

• "Everything looks slightly blurry"

• "It's not painful, but it's really annoying"

• "I can feel the edge of the lens more than usual"

>>> See more: Are Contact Lenses Safe? Expert Advice on Risks, Benefits & Proper Care

What Happens If You Keep Wearing Them (1-8 Hours)

Short-Term Discomfort Symptoms

Blurry vision: An inside out contact lens doesn't position correctly over your pupil. Vision won't be as crisp as normal and often fluctuates as the lens shifts. And this is how to fix blurry contact lenses you can try at home.

Lens movement: Inside out lenses move excessively with each blink. You might notice the lens sliding around—your eye trying to reject the improperly positioned lens.

Eye watering: Your eyes may produce excess tears in response to irritation, trying to flush out what it perceives as a foreign object.

Can It Cause Damage? The Science

Wearing a contact lens inside out causes no permanent damage. A 2018 study in Contact Lens and Anterior Eye examined inside-out lens wear cases and found zero instances of corneal damage.

Soft contact lenses are extremely flexible and gentle. Even inside out, the lens material isn't harmful. However, you shouldn't ignore persistent discomfort. Continuing to wear an inside out contact lens for days could develop secondary problems like corneal irritation or bacterial contamination.

Real Cases from My Practice

Student wore inside out lens for 6 hours: Sarah complained of blurry vision and mild discomfort after six hours of lectures. Her right lens was inside out, with no eye damage, just slight redness. Symptoms resolved immediately after correct reinsertion.

First-time wearer didn't notice for full day: James wore his left lens inside out for 10 hours, assuming discomfort was normal adaptation. Examination revealed no corneal damage, only mild irritation that resolved within hours.

Long-Term Effects: What the Research Shows

Scientific research consistently shows that accidentally wearing a contact lens inside out produces no long-term effects. If you wear an inside out contact lens for an hour and correct it, there are zero long-term effects. Even a full day of inside-out wear, when corrected, results in complete recovery. The only scenario where problems could develop is ignoring persistent discomfort for days or weeks, which requires deliberately ignoring obvious signals.

How to Know Your Lens Is Inside Out (Before You Put It In)

The Bowl Test

The most reliable method:

1. Place the lens on your fingertip

2. Hold it up to eye level against good lighting

3. Look at the lens profile from the side

Correct: Forms a perfect bowl shape with edges curving inward. 

Inside out: Edges flare outward, like a shallow dish with upturned edges.

The Edge Check Method

Correct: Edges are smooth and curve naturally inward. 

Inside out: Edges appear to curl or flare slightly outward.

Manufacturer Markings Guide

Many modern contact lenses include indicators:

• Laser markings: Tiny markings (often "123") appear correctly when right-side-out and backwards when inside out

• Tinted edges: Appear more prominent when correctly oriented

• Check your lens packaging for brand-specific orientation markers

Quick Comparison Table: Right vs Wrong

What to Do If You've Already Put It In

1. Remove the lens: Wash hands thoroughly, remove the inside out contact lens, place in clean palm

2. Flip it correctly: Add drops of solution, gently flip right-side-out, verify with bowl test

3. Rinse and reinsert: Rinse with fresh solution, verify orientation, insert normally

When to use a fresh lens: If the lens has been inside out for several hours, has debris, or appears damaged, use a fresh lens. For daily disposables, always use a new lens.

>>> See more: A Beginner's Guide to Contact Lenses: Essential Tips for First-Time Users

5 Myths About Inside-Out Contact Lenses (Busted)

Myth 1: "You'll immediately know"

Reality: Many people wear inside out contact lens for hours without realizing. Sensitivity varies.

Myth 2: "It can scratch your eye"

Reality: Soft lenses remain gentle and flexible regardless of orientation.

Myth 3: "Expensive lenses don't go inside out"

Reality: All soft contact lenses can be accidentally reversed.

Myth 4: "You can't wear them if they've been inside out"

Reality: Once cleaned and flipped correctly, the lens is perfectly fine.

Myth 5: "It happens to beginners only"

Reality: Even experienced wearers occasionally make this mistake, especially in dim lighting.

>>> See more: Can You Sleep with Contacts In?

Prevention Tips for Different Lens Wearers

For First-Time Users

• Always check lens orientation in good lighting

• Develop a consistent routine

• Use the bowl test every time

For Daily Disposable Wearers

• Remove lenses from packaging carefully

• Use bright lighting daily disposables are thinner

For Monthly Lens Users

• Check orientation each handling, not just during insertion

• Verify after cleaning before storing

For People with Poor Close Vision

• Use a magnifying mirror

• Ensure bright, focused lighting

• The bowl test works better than edge checking

When to Contact Your Optician

Red flag symptoms:

• Severe pain (not just discomfort)

• Vision that doesn't improve after correction

• Persistent redness >1 hour after removal

• Light sensitivity

• Discharge from your eye

Decision guide:

• Mild discomfort resolving after correction: No appointment needed

• Discomfort persisting >2 hours after correct reinsertion: Contact optician

• Vision changes lasting >30 minutes after correction: Same-day appointment

• Pain, redness, or discharge: Urgent appointment needed

Frequently Asked Questions

Can wearing a contact lens inside out damage my eyes?

No, wearing an inside out contact lens won't damage your eyes. You'll experience discomfort, but no permanent harm occurs.

How long can I wear an inside out contact lens?

You shouldn't deliberately wear one, but if you accidentally do for several hours, you'll be fine. Remove and correct as soon as you realize.

Will my vision be blurry with an inside out lens?

Yes, vision is typically blurrier because the optical zone isn't positioned correctly. Vision clears immediately upon correct insertion.

Can I flip the lens without removing it?

No, always remove the lens, flip it in your palm with solution, verify orientation, and reinsert.

Should I throw away a lens that's been inside out?

Not necessarily. If it's been inside out briefly and appears undamaged, clean and reinsert correctly. For daily disposables, use a fresh one.

Why do I keep putting my lenses in inside out?

Usually due to poor lighting or rushing. Develop a consistent checking routine before every insertion.

Final Reassurance: You're Going to Be Fine

If you've just realized you're wearing a contact lens inside out, take a deep breath—you're absolutely fine. This happens to nearly everyone at some point. Your eyes are remarkably resilient, and the discomfort you feel is your body's protective mechanism working correctly.

Simply remove the lens, flip it correctly, and reinsert it. Within minutes, you'll feel back to normal with no lasting effects. The fact that you noticed something was wrong shows you're paying attention to your eye health.

Concerned? Book a contact lens check-up with your optician. Most UK opticians offer same-day appointments for contact lens concerns.

Wearing an inside out contact lens causes temporary discomfort but no permanent damage. Learn to identify correct lens orientation using the bowl test, and remember that even experienced wearers occasionally make this mistake.