Cornea and External Diseases

Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis

Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis (GPC)
  • Reversible chronic inflammatory condition affecting the upper tarsal conjunctiva; most commonly associated with soft contact lens wear.
  • Other causes: protruding suture ends and ocular prostheses.

Clinical Features

  • Symptoms: itching, tearing, mucus secretion, foreign body sensation, and contact lens intolerance.
  • Signs:
    • Upper tarsal conjunctival hyperemia
    • Enlarged papillae (ranged from < 0.3 - 2mm)
    • Mucus discharge, lid swelling, and pseudoptosis

Management

  • Remove offending agents such as stopping contact lens wear, changing lens solutions or suture removal.
  • Encourage the patients to replace lenses frequently, use preservative-free lens solution, and increase lens hygiene.
  • Medical treatment with mast cell stabilizers (i.e. sodium cromolyn eyedrops) and/or corticosteroids may be required in more advanced cases.