contact lens focus

Ending a Dry Spell

Contact lens’ water gradient material results in patient comfort.

SUSAN KOVACICH, O.D., F.A.A.O.

Just as “location, location, location” is the most important consideration in real estate, “comfort, comfort, comfort” is often the deciding factor for patients when choosing a contact lens is comfortable wear.

In fact, ocular symptoms of dryness and discomfort are the main reason for permanent contact lens drop out.¹ One way the contact lens industry has sought to meet the desire of comfort is by making available daily disposable lenses.

Here, I discuss a recently available daily disposable lens: Alcon’s Dailies Total 1.

Overview

The Dailies Total 1 water gradient silicone hydrogel contact lens is made of a delefilcon A core, with 33% water content, combined with a non-silicone hydrophilic gel at the lens surface that has a water content greater than 80%.

The silicone hydrogel core provides the lens with breathability, and the 6μm thick layer of hydrophilic polymer chains at the lens’ surface. This increases lubricity and reduces friction, thus improving all-day comfort, as reported by Alcon.

Patients have reported a 9.2 out of 10 end-of-day comfort rating, with 97% able to wear the lens successfully, according to Alcon.

Fitting and chair time

The Dailies Total 1’s spherical optics have eased the fitting process, which means chair time has not increased. Specifically, the .7MPa lens modulus makes it easy to handle, which can decrease time spent on insertion and removal training for those new to contact lens wear. Since the lens is so slippery, however, all patients need to be educated that their fingers must be dry during contact lens removal.

Because the lens is a daily disposable, it has also improved patient compliance, which has eliminated complications from disinfection solution sensitivity and misuse.

Compliant patients are healthy and happy and make less follow-up visits to the office with complaints, decreasing chair time.

Dailes Total 1
MATERIAL: Delefilcon A DK/T: 156 at −3.00D WEARING SCHEDULE: Daily use RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT SCHEDULE: Daily disposable DIAMETER: 14.1mm BASE CURVE: 8.5 SPHERE POWER: −0.50D to −6.00D in .25D steps; −6.50D to −10.00D in .50D steps

Marketing and ROI

Dailies Total 1 has a higher price point than other daily disposable lenses on the market. However, many patients who tolerate discomfort, such as end-of-day dryness or who have dropped out of contact lenses, have been open to spending more on a lens that enables them to return to comfortable contact lens wear.

All the patients that I have fit in this lens have reported an increase in comfort and have told their family and friends about the Dailies Total 1.

With word-of-mouth advertising like this, I expect more patients to come to the office looking to be fit with this new lens, increasing ROI.

CL advancements

The soft contact lens market has been defined by revolutions in materials and designs through the past four decades. I believe this new water gradient lens material provides a lens that offers excellent vision, ocular health and comfortable wear. OM

1. Richdale K, Sinnott LT, Skadahl E, Nichols JJ. Frequency of and factors associated with contact lens dissatisfaction and discontinuation. Cornea. 2007 Feb;26(2):168-174.

DR. KOVACICH IS AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND CHIEF OF THE CORNEA AND CONTACT LENS SERVICE AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF OPTOMETRY IN BLOOMINGTON, IND. E-MAIL HER AT SKOVACH@INDIANA.EDU, OR SEND COMMENTS TO OPTOMETRICMANAGEMENT@GMAIL.COM.