What is the most common cause of Giant Papillary conjunctivitis (GPC)?

What is the most common cause of Giant Papillary conjunctivitis (GPC)?

• A. Silicone hydrogel contact lens wear
• B. Soft contact lens wear
• C. Rigid gas permeable lens wear
• D. Glasses only

Answer: (A)

Giant papillary conjunctivitis arises from chronic irritation and antigenic deposits on lenses resting on the eye, triggering a papillary reaction on the tarsal conjunctiva. The most common trigger in modern practice is contact lens wear, especially with silicone hydrogel soft lenses. These lenses are widely used and often worn for extended periods, which increases exposure to mechanical rubbing and tear film deposits (proteins, lipids, biofilm). That combination promotes the large papillary changes characteristic of GPC. Glasses alone don’t provoke this reaction, and while rigid gas-permeable lenses can cause irritation, the frequency and degree of papillary response are typically less than with soft silicone hydrogel lenses. So the silicone hydrogel contact lens wear stands out as the most common cause.

Giant papillary conjunctivitis arises from chronic irritation and antigenic deposits on lenses resting on the eye, triggering a papillary reaction on the tarsal conjunctiva. The most common trigger in modern practice is contact lens wear, especially with silicone hydrogel soft lenses. These lenses are widely used and often worn for extended periods, which increases exposure to mechanical rubbing and tear film deposits (proteins, lipids, biofilm). That combination promotes the large papillary changes characteristic of GPC. Glasses alone don’t provoke this reaction, and while rigid gas-permeable lenses can cause irritation, the frequency and degree of papillary response are typically less than with soft silicone hydrogel lenses. So the silicone hydrogel contact lens wear stands out as the most common cause.