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Monthly lenses are perfect for wearers who prefer reusable contacts and keep up with daily cleaning. As part of Alcon’s long-established line of monthly contact lenses, Air Optix® plus HydraGlyde® and TOTAL30® are widely prescribed for patients who need consistent vision correction with reusable lenses.
Despite coming from the same manufacturer, the lens designs are not identical, so learning what sets them apart can help you and your ECP choose the most suitable Alcon monthly lens for you.
What’s The Difference Between Alcon’s Air Optix plus HydraGlyde and TOTAL30?
At a simple level, both lenses are monthly silicone hydrogels from Alcon, but they take different approaches to surface feel, deposits, and oxygen. In the next few sections, we’ll walk through how Air Optix plus HydraGlyde and TOTAL30 compare on wearing schedule, comfort, special features, price, and reviews, so you can see how each one performs in everyday wear and choose the Alcon monthly lens that fits you best.
Shop Air Optix TOTAL30 Contacts at Lens.com
Wearing Schedule
Both lenses are monthly replacement contacts. Each lens is worn during the day for up to 30 days, then thrown away and replaced with a new one. For safe use, you put the lenses in the morning, remove them before sleep, and clean and store them in fresh solution every night.
Where they differ is in extended wear:
Air Optix plus HydraGlyde
Air Optix plus HydraGlyde is approved for daily wear and, for some patients, up to 6 nights of continuous wear when an ECP specifically approves it.
TOTAL30
TOTAL30 is approved for daily wear only. The lenses should be removed before sleep, then cleaned and stored in an appropriate contact lens disinfecting solution until the next day.
If you’ve had trouble keeping up with lens care or replacing lenses on schedule, your ECP might prefer daily disposable lenses, as these remove the cleaning and storage steps.
Comfort
Comfort depends on several factors: lens material, surface treatment, oxygen delivery, your tear chemistry, and how you wear and care for your lenses. Together, these influence how smooth the lens feels on the eye and how well it holds up over a full month of use.
Air Optix plus HydraGlyde
SmartShield Technology creates a thin protective layer on the lens surface that helps resist oily deposits and makeup, keeping the lens smoother when you blink.
Meanwhile HydraGlyde Moisture Matrix acts as a wetting agent that helps the surface stay moist through the day and can ease end-of-day dryness for some wearers.
TOTAL30
TOTAL30 uses a water-gradient material, with a lower-water core and a surface that is almost 100% water, so your eye mainly touches a very soft, water-rich layer.
On the other hand, its high oxygen transmissibility (Dk/t) lets more oxygen reach the cornea to support corneal health and keep eyes looking clear and white.
Special Features
Beyond vision correction, both lenses include design features that matter in day-to-day wear, from comfort to lens cleanliness. The points below highlight these features for each lens.
Air Optix plus HydraGlyde Special Features
- SmartShield Technology
- HydraGlyde Moisture Matrix
- Silicone Hydrogel Material (lotrafilcon B)
- Visibility Tint
TOTAL30 Special Features
- Water-Gradient Technology
- CELLIGENT Technology
- UV and Blue-violet Light Absorption
- Visibility Tint
Reviews
Air Optix plus HydraGlyde Reviews
Air Optix plus HydraGlyde has an average rating of 9.5/10 from 642 wearers. Most reviews mention that the lenses stay comfortable through long days and feel reliable from month to month, especially for people who have worn Air Optix products for years.
TOTAL30 Reviews
TOTAL30 is rated 8.8/10 from 8 reviews. Early wearers often describe the lens as soft on the eye with good end-of-day comfort, but the number of reviews is still limited compared with Air Optix plus HydraGlyde.
Choosing the Right Lens Based on Your Daily Routine
Your daily pattern of wear is a simple way to separate these two options.
Overnight or extended wear
If your ECP has approved occasional overnight wear, Air Optix plus HydraGlyde is the only one labeled for up to 6 nights of continuous wear. Even with approval, this schedule has higher risk and needs close follow-up.
History of deposit-related symptoms
If you notice discomfort or haze near the end of the month with other reusable lenses, TOTAL30’s water-gradient surface and CELLIGENT design are worth discussing with your ECP.
Light exposure
If you spend a lot of time outdoors or under bright light, TOTAL30’s UV and blue-violet absorption adds extra protection, although sunglasses are still necessary. Air Optix plus HydraGlyde does not list UV absorption.
Preference for a long-established lens
Air Optix plus HydraGlyde has been on the market longer and has many more user reviews, which some patients find reassuring.
Talk through these points with your ECP, along with any ocular surface disease, allergies, or past contact lens complications, so the final choice reflects your eye health and wear habits.
Which Monthly Contact Lens Is Right for You?
Both lenses are solid options for reusable wear from the same manufacturer, but the “right” one depends on your eyes rather than the spec sheet.
Air Optix plus HydraGlyde often suits wearers who want a familiar monthly lens with a focus on staying clean and stable, and who may need an extended-wear option when an ECP approves it.
TOTAL30 is usually a better match for wearers who like a very wet lens surface, high oxygen flow, and built-in UV and blue-violet filtering in a monthly lens.
From there, the choice comes down to your day-to-day routine, any history of dryness or deposit issues, and how each lens feels during a trial. Share those details with your ECP so the final recommendation fits your prescription, eye health, and how you actually wear your lenses.
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