GPC, will it ever go away?

[melzombie]

I was diagnosed with GPC 2 months ago and I've been using Tobradex for two months. My Opthamologist says my lids look better, but there is still some allergen there. He told me that I need to stop taking the Tobradex because apparently it's not good to take it for a long period of time. I've stopped taking it and my eyes are back to feeling awful. They didn't feel 100% back to normal on the Tobradex, but it helped!
My contact lenses have been out for two months and I've been on steroids for that long. I'm getting a little worried that this will never go away. According to my Opthamologist, my GPC is not severe and he is confident I can get back into dailies.  

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

You would do well to stop contact lens as it almost always comes back even with dailies. Consider glasses or refractive surgery. There is a non-steroid drop used to treat it called opticrom. Prolonged use of steroids is really bad, risks glaucoma, cataracts, fungus infections.

[melzombie]

Hi, thanks for your response!
Is there a way the doctor can tell if the irritation is from my actual contact lense or an environmental/home allergen? Since my lenses have been removed and I've been on steroids for two months, should I be concerned that it's maybe from a environmental/home allergen? Or does it really take this long to go away?  I have never had any issues with allergies. According to my doctor after flipping my eyelids, I'm between "mild/moderate" case. thanks!

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

You can read about GPC, the cause is almost uniformly contact lens wear, especially extended wear and expecially people that do not replace the contact are regular prescribed intervals. I have see it take 6-9 months for moderate GPC to go away. Enviromental allergens don't cause reactions like GPC.

[AB716]

I have GPC and do not wear contacts. I’ve been on prednisone eye drops for the past week with no relief. Was on Pataday for a month before that with no relief. What can I do?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

This is a link to learn more:  https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-giant-papillary-conjunctivitis . As I said in the earlier postings,  GPC whether due to contact lens (most cases) or no contact lens (rare) is not going to clear up in a week, even if on steroids.  If available to you get a second opinion if you are not better after 2 weeks on ssteroid drops.  

[melzombie]

I forgot to add. At my last appointment, My doctor told me to use something like Pataday and artificial tears.