Most contact lens wearers have experienced that specific 4:00 p.m. eye fatigue. After hours spent working and staring at your computer, your eyes will often feel gritty.
Finding a contact that stays moist throughout a long workday can be very tricky. This is where Dailies TOTAL1 comes in! These are ‘premium’ contacts that are supposed to provide incredible comfort all day.
However, does TOTAL1 actually deliver on its promises? Let’s take a look through and see what these premium contacts have to offer!
What Sets Dailies TOTAL1 Apart From Other Contacts?
One of the main things that sets TOTAL1 apart from other contacts is the material it’s made from.
Dailies TOTAL1 lenses are manufactured using a silicone hydrogel material called Delefilcon A. The core has a very high oxygen transmissibility, which ensures there’s airflow to your eyes. This helps prevent the bloodshot look that often comes from wearing less breathable lenses for too many hours.
The real innovation is in the lens’s water gradient technology. The lens has two distinct layers. While the core is only 33% water for structural integrity, the outer surface transitions to nearly 100% water.
Therefore, when you blink, your eyelid isn’t rubbing against silicone. It’s gliding over a cushion of liquid that mimics the natural surface of the eye.
Head-to-Head: How TOTAL1 Stacks Up Against Other Premiums
With so many choices out there, you really need to know where your money is going before you commit to a 30 or 90-day supply. Here is how the big names in the ‘luxury’ category actually compare to TOTAL1.
Dailies TOTAL1 vs. ACUVUE OASYS 1-Day
ACUVUE OASYS 1-Day is a huge favorite for people who spend many hours of the day in front of a monitor.
If we are talking pure slickness and that wet-lens feeling, TOTAL1 still wins. But there is a catch. OASYS includes Class 1 UV blocking, which is something Dailies TOTAL1 doesn’t have.
If you spend your weekends hiking or out in the sun, that extra protection might make OASYS the better pick for your lifestyle. Just remember that you’ll still want to wear sunglasses since contacts only cover your corneas.
Dailies TOTAL1 vs. Bausch + Lomb Infuse
Infuse is a newer challenger on the scene. It uses what they call ProBalance technology to release a blend of moisturizing ingredients into your tear film all day.
Some users on Reddit have mentioned that Infuse is actually a bit easier to handle because it isn’t quite as slippery as the TOTAL1 contacts. Still, many Reddit users found TOTAL1 contacts to be more comfortable.
The Real Difference: Dailies TOTAL1 vs. Standard Lenses
If you are moving up from a basic daily lens, the change is pretty immediate. It usually comes down to three things:
Staying Power
Most lenses feel decent for the first part of the day. However, as the day goes on, they start to get dry.
TOTAL1 is different because it keeps that fresh-out-of-the-pack moisture until you take them out.
No More Blurring
When a lens dries out, your vision gets fuzzy. Because these lenses stay hydrated, the surface stays smooth. You get sharp vision without having to do that desperate blink-and-rewet routine every 20 minutes.
The “First Contact” Feel
Usually, there is an adjustment period when you pop a lens in. With these, there is almost zero awareness that you are even wearing them. They just settle instantly.
What Real Users are Saying
Clinical specs are fine, but the real test is what actual users think. The feedback on places like EZContacts and Reddit is positive, though there is a bit of a learning curve.
On EZContacts, Stacey C. shared that she’s a big fan of TOTAL1. She wrote:
“Excellent contacts. These have helped me greatly. They stay moist throughout the day and are a breeze to put in and take out… Turns out my prior contacts were drying out by the end of the day. These are just perfect.”
Alan W. shared they’re the “best contacts” he’s ever worn, writing:
“Total 1 are the best contacts I have ever worn. I have been wearing contacts since 7th grade. I am 59. These contacts are exceptionally comfortable. I frequently forget I have them in. I have taken naps with them in and have no dryness issues afterward. It is just a bit weird just throwing them away at the end of the day after years of being careful not to lose one!”
What Reddit Users Are Saying
The feedback on Reddit is also generally positive. People actually forget they have the TOTAL1 contacts in. If you’ve spent years dealing with ‘lens awareness,’ that constant, annoying feeling of a piece of plastic on your eye, this is a massive deal. It’s a quality-of-life upgrade you didn’t know you needed.
But there’s a catch to having that much water on the surface. These contacts are incredibly smooth, which makes taking them out a bit of a project sometimes.
A common tip from the Reddit threads is to make sure your fingers are bone-dry before you even try to touch the contact. If there’s any moisture on your fingertips, you just won’t get a grip. One user even joked that it’s like trying to catch a wet bar of soap inside your own eye. It takes a second to get the hang of it.
Staying Ahead of Eye Fatigue
Even if you’re wearing the best lenses on the market, your eyes still need a little backup. If your schedule is brutal, keeping artificial tears nearby is a smart move.
It’s also worth mentioning that your eyes just need a break sometimes. Switching to a pair of quality prescription glasses on the weekend is a way to let your corneas recover.
So, is TOTAL1 the Gold Standard?
For many contact lens users, TOTAL1 lives up to the hype. The contacts feel smooth. Most other lenses feel a bit clunky or ‘present’ in comparison. That water gradient technology makes a real, tangible difference in how your eyes feel all day.
If you’re tired of lenses that blur up, dry out, or just feel like a constant distraction, these are absolutely worth a test drive. To ensure the contacts work for you, ask your doctor about getting a trial box.
Just remember to keep some artificial tears handy for those extra-long days, and give your eyes a rest with some stylish frames on your days off.
TOTAL1 contacts are a premium investment, but for anyone struggling with comfort, the difference in your daily quality of life is usually worth every penny.
TL;DR
- Dailies TOTAL1 are often marketed as Alcon’s ‘premium’ contact lens.
- The lens core is made from a highly breathable material called Delefilcon A, which allows more oxygen to reach the eye.
- The lenses also feature water gradient technology. They transition from 33% water at the core to nearly 100% water at the surface. This provides more comfort.
- There are many positive reviews of TOTAL1 on EZContacts and Reddit.
- When looked at head-to-head with other premium contacts, TOTAL1 is often seen as more comfortable.
