If your eyes often feel gritty, dry, red, or irritated, or if your eyelids feel crusty in the morning, the issue may not be dryness alone. You could be dealing with blepharitis, a common eyelid condition that affects the delicate margins of the eyelids and can trigger or worsen dry eye symptoms.
At Family Vision Center, with locations in Rockledge and Merritt Island, we offer BlephEx: a simple, non-invasive, in-office treatment designed to help patients manage blepharitis and enjoy long-term dry eye relief.
Why Eyelid Health Matters
Blepharitis and poor eyelid hygiene are major contributors to dry eye discomfort, especially in patients who wear contact lenses or spend a lot of time in front of screens. This condition may lead to burning, itching, redness, watery eyes, light sensitivity, or the feeling that there’s something in your eye.
In many cases, the problem is due to a build-up of debris, bacteria, or oil along the eyelid margins. Left untreated, this can trigger flare-ups, affect the stability of your tear film, and even cause recurrent styes or eyelash issues.
What Is Blepharitis?
Blepharitis is an inflammatory condition that affects the eyelid margins, the area where your eyelashes grow. It may be caused by:
- Bacterial overgrowth
- Oil gland blockages
- Skin conditions such as rosacea or seborrheic dermatitis
- Microscopic eyelid mites (Demodex)
Blepharitis is common and can become chronic if not addressed properly. Patients with blepharitis often experience symptoms like morning crusting, red eyes, contact lens discomfort, or a sensation of burning or dryness that does not improve with typical eye drops.
What Is BlephEx?
BlephEx is a gentle in-office treatment designed to address the root cause of eyelid inflammation. Using a medical-grade cleaning tip, your eye doctor will carefully exfoliate the eyelid margins, removing biofilm, bacteria, debris, and hardened oils that accumulate along the lash line.
This professional eyelid cleaning helps reset the eyelid surface, allowing your natural tear film to stabilize and your oil glands (meibomian glands) to function more effectively. The procedure is comfortable, quick, and typically completed in under 10 minutes.
Benefits of BlephEx at Family Vision Center
Patients in both our Rockledge and Merritt Island clinics have experienced noticeable improvement after BlephEx. Benefits include:
- Reduced eyelid inflammation and redness
- Improved comfort when wearing contact lenses
- Decreased dry eye symptoms and less dependency on artificial tears
- Fewer flare-ups of styes or lash debris
- A cleaner, healthier lash line and improved tear stability
Many patients choose to have BlephEx performed regularly as part of their long-term dry eye management plan.
Who Is a Good Candidate for BlephEx?
You may benefit from BlephEx if you experience:
- Chronic dry eye symptoms that don’t respond well to over-the-counter drops
- Eyelid crusting or flakes, especially in the morning
- Contact lens discomfort due to irritation or dryness
- Frequent styes, meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), or red, irritated eyelids
Our optometrists will perform a full evaluation to determine whether you have blepharitis and whether BlephEx is the right solution for you.
Find Out if BlephEx Can Help You
If your dry eye symptoms have not improved with standard treatments, or if you’re dealing with recurring eyelid irritation or styes, it’s time to take a closer look at eyelid health.
Schedule a dry eye evaluation at Family Vision Center in Rockledge or Merritt Island to learn more about BlephEx and how it can support your long-term eye comfort. Our team will help you understand your options and build a treatment plan that works for your eyes and lifestyle.
