[Differential diagnosis and therapy of gigantopapillary conjunctivitis]

If wearers of contact lenses present with secretion and incompatibility of the contact lens, simple ectropionation of the upper eyelids often is sufficient to diagnose a giant papillary conjunctivitis as the cause. This form of papillary hypertrophy affecting wearers of both hard and soft contact lenses is morphologically similar to vernal conjunctivitis, which should be considered in cases of corneal ulceration resistant to therapy. The histological difference between the two forms of papillary hypertrophy is that contact lens-induced giant papillary conjunctivitis shows remarkably less eosinophilic infiltration of the papillary stroma. Both forms of papillary hypertrophy seem to be based on a complex immunologic reaction.