What is Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis?
Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis (GPC) is a condition most commonly associated with contact lens use. The occurrence of GPC is up to four times greater in soft contact lens wearers versus hard contact lens wearers. GPC may affect as many as 20 percent of soft contact lens wearers. Although the mechanism by which GPC occurs is not clearly understood, it seems to be related to the contact lens materials and the preparations used to care for the lens (cleaning and sterilization solutions). GPC is characterized by giant bumps (papillae), larger than 1 mm on the upper eyelid. Among the earliest signs of GPC is the redness of the upper eyelid. This is an important characteristic if an early diagnosis is to be made. Abnormal thickening of the conjunctiva (the outermost membrane which lines the eyelids) may progress to opacification as inflammatory cells enter the tissue.
