Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Transactions of the American Ophthalmological Society logoLink to Transactions of the American Ophthalmological Society
. 1999;97:205–220.

Giant papillary conjunctivitis in frequent-replacement contact lens wearers: a retrospective study.

P C Donshik 1, A D Porazinski 1
PMCID: PMC1298261  PMID: 10703125

Abstract

PURPOSE: A retrospective study was done of 47 patients who wore frequent-replacement contact lenses on a daily basis and replaced them every 1 day to 12 weeks. The incidence of giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC) was determined, and potential risk factors that may predispose frequent-replacement contact lens wearers to develop GPC were assessed. METHODS: The records of patients who were fitted with frequent-replacement contact lenses with no prior contact lens experience (September 1993 to February 1997) were reviewed. RESULTS: Forty-seven of 260 patients met the requirement for inclusion in this study. Ten (21.27%) of the patients developed GPC. The incidence varied according to how often the contact lenses were replaced. Incidence was 36% in patients who replaced their lenses at 4 weeks or longer and 4.5% in patients who replaced their lenses at less than 4 weeks. Lenses were coated more often in patients who replaced their lenses at 4 weeks or longer (pi = .23). A significantly greater number of patients in the GPC group incorporated enzyme into their contact lens care system (pi = .0004). A history of allergy was present, significantly more often in patients who developed GPC (pi = .012). There was no significant difference between the groups for age, sex, average daily wearing time, Food and Drug Administration classification of contact lens material, time in contact lenses from fitting to diagnosis or last follow-up period, or the parameters and fitting characteristics of the contact lenses. CONCLUSION: The frequency of contact lens replacement appears to be an important variable in development of GPC. Although frequent-replacement contact lenses do not eliminate GPC, patients on a 1-day to 3-week replacement cycle had a significantly lower risk of developing GPC than patients who replaced their lenses at longer intervals. Coating was present less often on lenses replaced every 1 day to 3 weeks. In patients who are at high risk for GPC, replacing lenses at intervals of 1 day to 2 weeks appears to offer a better strategy in avoiding GPC than incorporating enzymatic cleaning into their care system.

Full text

PDF
205

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Allansmith M. R., Korb D. R., Greiner J. V., Henriquez A. S., Simon M. A., Finnemore V. M. Giant papillary conjunctivitis in contact lens wearers. Am J Ophthalmol. 1977 May;83(5):697–708. doi: 10.1016/0002-9394(77)90137-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Allansmith M. R., Korb D. R., Greiner J. V., Henriquez A. S., Simon M. A., Finnemore V. M. Giant papillary conjunctivitis in contact lens wearers. Am J Ophthalmol. 1977 May;83(5):697–708. doi: 10.1016/0002-9394(77)90137-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Ballow M., Donshik P. C., Rapacz P., Maenza R., Yamase H., Muncy L. Immune responses in monkeys to lenses from patients with contact lens induced giant papillary conjunctivitis. CLAO J. 1989 Jan-Mar;15(1):64–70. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Begley C. G., Riggle A., Tuel J. A. Association of giant papillary conjunctivitis with seasonal allergies. Optom Vis Sci. 1990 Mar;67(3):192–195. doi: 10.1097/00006324-199003000-00008. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Boswall G. J., Ehlers W. H., Luistro A., Worrall M., Donshik P. C. A comparison of conventional and disposable extended wear contact lenses. CLAO J. 1993 Jul;19(3):158–165. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Bucci F. A., Jr, Lopatynsky M. O., Jenkins P. L., Mackay A. T., Rickert D. G., Gold R. M. Comparison of the clinical performance of the Acuvue disposable contact lens and CSI lens in patients with giant papillary conjunctivitis. Am J Ophthalmol. 1993 Apr 15;115(4):454–459. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9394(14)74446-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Choi T. H., Ko M. K., Choe J. K. Increased numbers of Langerhans cell and expression of HLA-Dr antigen in the giant papilla of patients with giant papillary conjunctivitis. Korean J Ophthalmol. 1996 Jun;10(1):18–23. doi: 10.3341/kjo.1996.10.1.18. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Donshik P. C., Ehlers W. H. The contact lens patient and ocular allergies. Int Ophthalmol Clin. 1991 Spring;31(2):133–145. doi: 10.1097/00004397-199103120-00015. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Fujishima H., Takeuchi T., Shinozaki N., Saito I., Tsubota K. Measurement of IL-4 in tears of patients with seasonal allergic conjunctivitis and vernal keratoconjunctivitis. Clin Exp Immunol. 1995 Nov;102(2):395–398. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.1995.tb03796.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Kruger C. J., Ehlers W. H., Luistro A. E., Donshik P. C. Treatment of giant papillary conjunctivitis with cromolyn sodium. CLAO J. 1992 Jan;18(1):46–48. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Kumar P., Elston R., Black D., Gilhotra S., DeGuzman N., Cambre K. Allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and contact lens intolerance. CLAO J. 1991 Jan;17(1):31–34. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Maguen E., Rosner I., Caroline P., Macy J. I., Nesburn A. B. A retrospective study of disposable extended wear lenses in 100 patients: year 2. CLAO J. 1992 Oct;18(4):229–231. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Poggio E. C., Abelson M. Complications and symptoms in disposable extended wear lenses compared with conventional soft daily wear and soft extended wear lenses. CLAO J. 1993 Jan;19(1):31–39. doi: 10.1097/00140068-199301000-00006. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Transactions of the American Ophthalmological Society are provided here courtesy of American Ophthalmological Society

RESOURCES