Giant Papillary Conjuncitivitis

[tastesensibility]

My son was diagnosed with GPC around six months ago.  He has been on an oral antihistimine (claritin) for many years and uses Patanol and theratears.  He was told he could no longer wear contact lenses (that's fine) and hasn't since his diagnoses.  There is little change to his GPC even after using a prescription eye drop with steroids and antibiotic.  His opthamologist never asked if he used any face cleanser.  He uses a 10% Benzoyl Peroxide wash, in addition to Clearasil pads.  Could this be aggravating his eye condition and preventing his condition from improving?   He doesn't use the stuff in his eyes directly but I am sure there is residual chemical on his hands and on his bath towel.

[tastesensibility]

Thank you for responding.  I read about it from the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Hospital's web site under immunology.  Just to try it, I told my son not to use the treatment on his face for two weeks.  Probably won't work but I thought it would be easy enough to test it.

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

I have not heard of the other drugs causing this problem.

Dr. O.