Is my Giant Papillary conjunctivitis gone?!
Question: Hi I have been suffering with contacts for about 2 years now. I had problems where my contacts would be in my eyes and after a while of wearing them it felt like they started to float down when I was wearing them and after I took them out it felt like there was something under my eye lids. The problem became more common as time went on so i went to the doctors and they perscribed my eye drops like patonal and lotamax and i still had the prob. I have been dealing with the eye doctor for about a year now with the problem and it seemed like they cant get rid of it. Last time I went the doctor said that i have GPC. and he told me to try dailys. I didnt order them bc of the cost and i dont want to pay that much for dailys. I stoped going to the eye doctors hoping that the problem would cure on its on. It has been about 4 months now and I was wondering if the GPC had gone away and that I can wear my contacts full time again. The contacts that i wore was acuvue 2 and i really liked them.
Answers: Hi I have been suffering with contacts for about 2 years now. I had problems where my contacts would be in my eyes and after a while of wearing them it felt like they started to float down when I was wearing them and after I took them out it felt like there was something under my eye lids. The problem became more common as time went on so i went to the doctors and they perscribed my eye drops like patonal and lotamax and i still had the prob. I have been dealing with the eye doctor for about a year now with the problem and it seemed like they cant get rid of it. Last time I went the doctor said that i have GPC. and he told me to try dailys. I didnt order them bc of the cost and i dont want to pay that much for dailys. I stoped going to the eye doctors hoping that the problem would cure on its on. It has been about 4 months now and I was wondering if the GPC had gone away and that I can wear my contacts full time again. The contacts that i wore was acuvue 2 and i really liked them.
Normally GPC will have gone away, depending on the severity, in anywhere from 1 to 6 weeks.
Provided that you didn't wear contacts during that time.
If you haven't worn them for the 4 months, it should be safe now , but start wearing them slowly again...4 hours the first day...6 hours the next day...ect.
If you had chronic GPC's...it may never be gone and will flare up once you start wearing lenses again.
But the Dr. would have told you that and not suggested wearing dailys at the time.
You must take greater care now, and be careful not to overwear your lenses, you will always be more at risk of it developing again.
Irritations like GPC do not develop overnight and will not go away quickly either. Completely resolving the papillary conjunctivitis will take time. You may always have some bumps (papillae), but they won't be GIANT. Many times GPC occurs when the underside of the eyelid is irritated by excessive deposits on the lens or certain chemicals used to store the lenses.
Knowing whether the GPC still exists requires a look under your lids. GPC has a very striking appearance, and I have seen some doctors diagnose any papillae as GPC when it is not. It may come to pass that your eyelids are so sensitive now, that ANY lens will cause a papillary reaction.
If, however, you have no GPC and you can start successful wearing lenses again, I offer this advice. CLEAN YOUR LENSES! This means rubbing the lens for 20 seconds in the palm of your hand with an effective solution at the end of the day, even if the solution is labeled "No Rub". Rub it! Also try using peroxide-based multi-purpose solution like Clear Care from CibaVision. Read the instructions or have somebody at the doctor's office review the use of Clear Care.
I hope all goes well.