Alcon launches TOTAL30 monthly replacement contact lenses in Australia

Alcon Vision Care has introduced its first-and-only monthly replacement water gradient contact lens, TOTAL30. It is thought to be the first time a contact lens manufacturer in Australia and New Zealand has released all three optical designs – sphere, toric and multifocal – at once with all power parameters for each lens available at launch.

According to the company, Australasian optometrists have some of the highest prescribing rates of daily disposable contact lenses worldwide, but research shows 58% of contact lens wearers in Australia and New Zealand are wearing a reusable lens,¹ a rate that has remained fairly constant during the past five years.¹

“Whilst it is true daily replacement lenses are generally the preferred replacement modality for optometrists to prescribe, reusable lenses are the most prevalent, said Ms Nadia Michaels, Alcon Vision Care’s head of professional education and development ANZ.

“Reusable lenses offer a wide range of parameters and are a cost effective and environmentally friendly option for our patients. This is why reusable lenses continue to have a place in optometrist’s prescribing tool kit.”

According to Alcon, there have been few, if any, breakthrough innovations in the reusables space during the past decade. The last innovation in the reusable contact lens category was launched in 2017² in Australia and New Zealand.

Research also indicates patients who wear reusable lenses are more likely to experience discomfort. Fifty-eight per cent of all contact lens wearers experience discomfort,³ however this is significantly higher for reusable lens wearers (73%).⁴

Water gradient lenses, spearheaded by Alcon, have helped revolutionise daily disposable lens materials, but until now have only been available in the daily disposable modality. Alcon’s new TOTAL30 contact lenses bring the benefits of water gradient lens material to monthly lens wearers for the first time, with spherical, toric and multifocal parameters available from launch.

“As far as we are aware, this is the first time a contact lens manufacturer in Australia and New Zealand has released all three optical designs – sphere, toric and multifocal – at once with all power parameters for each lens available at launch,” said Mr Rich Oliver, cluster franchise head at Alcon Vision Care.

“We’ve heard from optometrists that this makes prescribing easier and we understand patients may require different designs in each eye. We hope this means more patients can experience the benefits of TOTAL30 allowing them to see brilliantly and live brilliantly.”

Following the success of TOTAL1, Alcon stated TOTAL30 will be the first-and-only monthly replacement water gradient contact lens. The contact lens design features Alcon’s proprietary Water Gradient technology combined with bio-mimetic Celligent technology. TOTAL30 is made possible by adapting Water Gradient material with Celligent Technology, a biomimetic chemistry that optimises performance for a full 30 days.^5,6

“Since 2014 our patients who wear daily disposable lenses have been able to access the benefits of the water gradient material with TOTAL1. We’re excited to be adding TOTAL30 to our portfolio and look forward to seeing how the lens will re-define the standard of excellence in the reusable segment,” Michaels said.

Alcon said TOTAL30 has been inspired by the biology of the ocular surface^7-9 and features a dynamic lens surface of polymer nanofibers which is almost identical to the structure of the glycocalyx on the corneal surface.¹⁰ Alcon calls this Celligent Technology. This allows the Water Gradient lens to support a monthly replacement schedule – including use of lens care solutions, deposit resis­tance, while maintaining comfort over the month-long period.^9-17

Michaels said Alcon continued to invest in continuing professional development for optometrists and the company was travelling across Australia and New Zealand hosting face-to-face educational events, supported by science and literature.

“We know optometrists are busy and we endeavour to review the literature for you, present the key findings that you need to know and be across and examine how this relates to the technology and benefits of Alcon’s products,” she said.

TOTAL30 is now available to order in sphere, toric and multifocal in Australia and New Zealand.

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References:

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11. Scanning transmission electron microscopy of lehfilcon A contact lens and human corneal surface; Alcon data on file, 2020. V-RIM-0032716, p.1-3
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14. In vitro evaluation of lipid deposition for lehfilcon A sphere and commercial sphere lenses using 3D confocal imaging; Alcon data on file, 2021 [Doc. No. V-RIM-0034922, p.4].
15. V-RIM-0035878 3D Confoocal microscopy high magnification images of lenses p.1
16. Laboratory analysis of surface modulus of lehfilcon A and commercial lenses using atomic force microscope; Alcon data on file, 2020. [Doc. No. V-RIM-0032036, p.3].
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20. TOTAL30™ Claims Support Summary; Alcon data on file, 2021. [CLY935-C013 study, p.4]