Dry, itchy, and irritated eyes are more than just a nuisance. For many people, these uncomfortable sensations are signs of a common condition known as dry eye disease.
If you’ve noticed that your eyes often feel gritty or tired, especially after long hours on a screen or in dry indoor air, you’re not alone. Fortunately, there are ways to help manage dry eye and support your everyday eye comfort. For instance, BlephEx is an in-office eyelid cleaning procedure designed to reduce inflammation and improve tear film function in people with dry eye symptoms.
What Is Dry Eye Syndrome?
Dry eye syndrome (also called dry eye disease) is a condition where the eyes don’t produce enough tears or the tears evaporate too quickly. This leads to a lack of moisture and lubrication on the eye’s surface, which can cause discomfort, blurry vision, and irritation.
Tears play a key role in keeping the eyes healthy by washing away debris and providing essential nutrients. When there’s an imbalance in the tear film whether from reduced tear production or poor tear quality dry eye symptoms can develop.
Common contributors to dry eyes include:
- Aging
- Long hours of screen time without blinking often
- Contact lens wear
- Exposure to wind, dry air, or smoke
- Certain medications, such as antihistamines or antidepressants
- Eye surgeries like LASIK
- Underlying conditions like blepharitis or meibomian gland dysfunction
Understanding what’s behind your symptoms is the first step toward finding relief. Your optometrist can assess your tear film and eye surface to help determine the best treatment path.
Types of Dry Eye
Dry eye disease can be broken into two main types, depending on which part of the tear production process is affected.
Evaporative Dry Eye
This is the most common form and occurs when tears evaporate too quickly. It’s often caused by issues with the meibomian glands, which produce the oily layer of the tear film. Inflammation or blockage of these glands are common causes of evaporative dry eye.
Aqueous Tear-Deficient Dry Eye
This type happens when the eyes don’t produce enough of the watery component of tears. It can result from autoimmune conditions, aging, or damage to the lacrimal glands.
Recognizing the Symptoms of Dry Eyes
Dry eye disease can be hard to identify, especially given that the symptoms can overlap with other common issues. Not sure if you have dry eye? These signs may point you in the right direction:
- Burning or scratchy sensations
- Red or irritated eyes
- Sensitivity to light
- Blurred vision
- A feeling like there’s something in your eye
- Excessive tearing (a response to dryness)
What Is BlephEx for Dry Eyes?
BlephEx is an in-office treatment designed to support eyelid hygiene, an important part of managing dry eye disease. It’s especially helpful for people with blepharitis, a common condition that causes irritation due to debris, bacteria, and oil buildup near the base of the eyelashes.
Over time, this buildup can form a biofilm along the eyelid margins, blocking the meibomian glands tiny oil glands that help keep the tear film stable. When these glands aren’t working properly, it can lead to dry, itchy, or burning eyes.
BlephEx uses a soft, spinning medical sponge to gently clean along the lash line and remove the accumulated material. The goal is to reduce inflammation, improve tear quality, and help your eyes feel more comfortable.
Who Can Benefit Most from BlephEx?
BlephEx is often recommended for people whose dry eye symptoms are linked to blepharitis. It works by gently cleaning the lash line and removing the biofilm (a layer of bacteria and debris) that can contribute to discomfort and poor tear quality.
You may benefit from BlephEx if you:
- Have been diagnosed with blepharitis
- Experience red, irritated, or crusty eyelids
- Frequently deal with styes or eyelid discomfort
- Wear contact lenses and experience dryness
- Struggle with thoroughly removing eye makeup
- Spend long hours in dry, dusty, or screen-heavy environments
For many people, regular BlephEx treatments help reduce dryness, improve visual comfort, and limit the need for frequent use of artificial tears. The treatment itself is brief, well-tolerated, and part of a larger care plan your optometrist may recommend to support your overall eye health and hygiene.
How Does It Work?
BlephEx uses a soft, medical-grade sponge that spins to gently exfoliate the eyelid margins.
During treatment:
- A numbing drop is applied to keep things comfortable
- The spinning sponge clears debris and biofilm along the lash line
- The entire process takes just a few minutes per eye
By removing bacterial buildup, BlephEx may help reduce inflammation and support healthier tear function. It is typically recommended every 4 to 6 months to maintain consistent results.
Take the First Step Toward Comfortable Eyes
Dry eyes don’t have to be a constant part of your day. If your eyes feel irritated or fatigued, a treatment like BlephEx can help you..
At Total Focus Optometry, we offer a personalized approach to dry eye care, including in-office options like BlephEx. Reach out to book an appointment and learn what solutions might work for you.
