GPC any new cures/treatments?

[Impreza19]

Aside from MCS and steroid drops, and no contact lens wear. Is there anything new out there for treatment?
Had it to varying degrees for about 4 years now. Thanks

[BeckaG]

Aside from MCS and steroid drops, and no contact lens wear. Is there anything new out there for treatment?
Had it to varying degrees for about 4 years now. Thanks

What is your history with it? Do you still wear contacts? If I had a bit more info maybe I could help you out.

[Impreza19]

What is your history with it? Do you still wear contacts? If I had a bit more info maybe I could help you out.

Its been on and off for a few years but has never gone away.
I currently wear RGP lenses maybe once a week, and have done for about a year. I use Opatonol eyedrops twice a day as well as oral antihistamines, steroids make my eye pressures increase.

[Scout]

Hello Impreza19,

I had GPC off and on for many years back when I wore soft contact lenses. My doctor finally told me I had to stop wearing contacts for at least a year to clear up the inflammation. I did that and then never went back to contacts (after about 20 years of wearing them).

After that, I didn’t have very many problems until I decided to get LASIK surgery. After that, I had ocular surface inflammation for years, a different area of the eye but with similar inflammatory symptoms.

GPC is an inflammatory response that affects people with allergies more often, but is more an inflammatory response to irritants rather than a classic allergic response. What I have found from my own experience is that inflammation is very difficult to treat. In fact, inflammation triggered by one type of irritation will cause your eyesto become so sensitive that other types of irritants can now trigger further inflammation. The more inflamed your eyes, the more sensitive your eyes. It is a difficult cycle to beat.

One thing I did notice from your last post is that you are using an allergy/mast cell stabilizer drop twice daily that contains a preservative (benzalkonium chloride) that is a known irritant to many users that can cause a severe inflammatory reaction. This could be one reason why the inflammation won’t go away. Your already inflamed eyelids are extra sensitive to all kinds of irritants, and BAK is an ocular irritant for many people.

When I had so many ocular surface problems after LASIK, my doctor prescribed a similar medication, thinking that I had ocular allergies. I may have had some allergies, because my symptoms did improve initially. But after long-term use, the ocular inflammation gradually increased, making them red and very painful.

On this board, I learned about the problems with using drops that contain this preservative, especially daily use. I decided to stop using that medication pretty much “cold turkey.” Initially, for the first month was very difficult. But after that first month, the inflammation gradually improved and now I don’t use any drops at all.

My story may be similar to yours, but you have to make your own decisions, along with advice from your doctor.

You may not want to stop the drops “cold turkey” like I did, but you may want to find out if there is a non-preserved version of your allergy/mast cell stabilizer available in your area.

I hope this helps,
Scout

[BeckaG]

I second what Scout had to say. I'v had a whirlwind experience since last May when I was diagnosed with GPC. Its frustrating because at least where I live with the health care system medical professionals really want to zip you in and out without actually giving you the individual attention you need, at least that has been my experience.

I was told that my GPC was induced due to summer pollen, and although it does irritate my eyes, I don't think thats what was causing the GPC. I was given the allergy drops and I really have to agree with Scout, easier said then done but be careful of all of the drops on your eyes, I still believe lotemax is what caused my dry eyes. I don't know what came first but I really noticed a difference when I just went completely preservative free with my eye drops, I was told by my doctor to use them about eight times a day and it wasn't until I weaned myself did my eyes get better (this was actually around the time that I started using olive oil around my eyes as well which helped with having to forgo eye drops.)

I have been told even now that I do have mild GPC, but it seems according to my current eye doctor he never believes I had a severe case but what was bothering my eyes more was my eyes had become dry, do you know how bad yours are? He told me unless it is bad you should be able to wear contacts with a mild case, perhaps are dry eyes causing your discomfort?

I think what helped me baby the GPC back to health was taking all the advice from this board about curing dry eyes, as I feel the same eye health benefits help the inflammation which causes the bumps on your eye lids. I would try the supplements other people suggest such as vitamin D etc that can calm inflammation in your body. Also be careful of irritating your eyes more, I was wearing makeup and I feel until I switched into hypoallergetic makeup my eyes would be itchy.

Lastly, have you tried the one a day contacts like acnevue moist? They are very thin and are supposed to not agitate the GPC whenever you blink.

[unicorn]

Scout's post is extremely informative and helpful. Imprezza, I know you've been dealing with this for some time and that you can't wear daily contacts due to your prescription. If your doctor feels a mast cell stabiliser is important, there is an unpreserved one available in the UK - it's called Catacrom. However, some docs now are using Tacrolimus ointment to treat recalcitrant cases of GPC, vernal conjunctivitis and atopic conjunctivitis. Perhaps this is something you could ask your ophth about, especially as you are a steroid responder.

[Impreza19]

Scout's post is extremely informative and helpful. Imprezza, I know you've been dealing with this for some time and that you can't wear daily contacts due to your prescription. If your doctor feels a mast cell stabiliser is important, there is an unpreserved one available in the UK - it's called Catacrom. However, some docs now are using Tacrolimus ointment to treat recalcitrant cases of GPC, vernal conjunctivitis and atopic conjunctivitis. Perhaps this is something you could ask your ophth about, especially as you are a steroid responder.

Thanks for the replies, really informative particularly Scout.
Unicorn, i remember a while ago i found a study on GPC and a particular product but i forgot what it was called, just googled Tacrolimus and i found it again:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18216583

Since you are in Scotland you may know, could i get this from my GP if i explain the situation or do i have to go back to my local hospital to get it prescribed? It sounds promising at least. I would buy it on the net with no prescription but it seems hard to get hold of.

[unicorn]

If my experience is anything to go by, your gp would be very reluctant to prescribe. I had it prescribed privately by an ophthalmologist, and even then my local pharmacy had to double check with him that I was indeed intended to put it (Protopic ointment) in my eyes. Even in ophthalmology it's a relatively new and not very well studied treatment. Ask your eye doc - I do hope you have a good one - and please, please, don't buy prescription medication off the internet to put in your eyes without a prescription! Tacrolimus is an immunosuppressant drug and needs to be used with care and under specialist supervision.

[Impreza19]

If my experience is anything to go by, your gp would be very reluctant to prescribe. I had it prescribed privately by an ophthalmologist, and even then my local pharmacy had to double check with him that I was indeed intended to put it (Protopic ointment) in my eyes. Even in ophthalmology it's a relatively new and not very well studied treatment. Ask your eye doc - I do hope you have a good one - and please, please, don't buy prescription medication off the internet to put in your eyes without a prescription! Tacrolimus is an immunosuppressant drug and needs to be used with care and under specialist supervision.

Is that the only other med which may help?
I get seen at Walsgrave hospital in Coventry from a GP referral. Its where i have my contact lens check up too.

[Bart]

Has anyone with dry eyes in combination with allergies/GPC used restasis? I suffer from allegies, meibomian gland dysfunction and mild to moderate GPC. I haven't used restasis in a while since it's not available in my country, but I used restasis over a year and it did help with my allegies / mgd, maybe it also does work for GPC, since it is an immunosuppressant. Any experiences?

[cammyb]

Has anyone with dry eyes in combination with allergies/GPC used restasis? I suffer from allegies, meibomian gland dysfunction and mild to moderate GPC. I haven't used restasis in a while since it's not available in my country, but I used restasis over a year and it did help with my allegies / mgd, maybe it also does work for GPC, since it is an immunosuppressant. Any experiences?

I think I have GPC too. Have been on Restasis and starting having problems with tear production( when I cry) which was really weird. Due to needing another laser procedure on my retina ( laser) I stopped it.
I also have MGD and allergies. I have a scleral buckle in my eye which I think exacerbates my allergies in and makes my eye more sensitive (GPC can start due to an irritant like a suture, which may be my issue). I tried a trial of the Dailes soft contacts but my eyes are drying out too fast for them. May have to look at Scleral lenses. It is weird I do not have symptoms other than a red lid in the surgical eye and no real symptoms of dryness other than the gritty feel ( which came back in my surgical eye) Going to give Restasis another try. It does seem to help but I feel I need to take a "holiday" from it because it feels like it builds up in my eye. Don't know if any other people have this issue.