BlephEx®
BlephEx® Treatment for Blepharitis in Virginia
Do you suffer from red, dry, irritated eyes or flaky eyelids? If so, you may have a common eye condition called blepharitis, which is often associated with dry eye syndrome. Not only is blepharitis uncomfortable, but if left untreated it can cause significant damage to the eyelids and tear glands.
What is Blepharitis?
Blepharitis is a common inflammatory eye condition, usually caused by a buildup of bacteria on or under the eyelids. In some cases, patients develop posterior blepharitis (inside the eyelid), which is a result of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). MGD is also a leading cause of dry eye syndrome, and the conditions share many symptoms.
Symptoms of blepharitis may include:
- Excessive tearing
- Feeling like there is something in the eye
- Grittiness
- Burning
- Itching
- Red, swollen eyelids
- Crusting of the eyelids
BlephEx Treatment for Blepharitis: How it Works
BlephEx is a pain-free procedure that removes eyelid debris and bacteria associated with blepharitis. The BlephEx tool is a small, handheld device that features a medical grade micro-sponge your ophthalmologist uses to gently cleanse the edges of your eyelids and lashes.
Preparing for Treatment
Prior to BlephEx treatment, you will undergo a thorough eye examination to determine whether the source of your symptoms is blepharitis or another condition. If you are diagnosed with blepharitis, your eye doctor will likely recommend BlephEx treatment as well as a home cleaning regimen to keep your eyelids clean. We recommended that you do not wear makeup or contact lenses the day of your treatment.
The BlephEx Treatment Experience
The BlephEx treatment experience is painless, though many patients report that the cleansing brush tickles. Before treatment, your doctor will apply numbing eye drops to ensure your comfort.
To cleanse your eyelids, your doctor will use the BlephEx handheld device, with the soft micro-sponge rotating to gently break away accumulated biofilm and debris and exfoliate the area. A fresh micro-sponge will be used for each eye. Following cleansing, any additional debris will be rinsed away. The entire treatment lasts roughly 6-8 minutes.
After BlephEx Treatment
Following BlephEx treatment, you should notice an immediate decrease in your blepharitis symptoms and an overall improvement in eyelid health. There is no downtime: you can resume your normal daily activities immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions About BlephEx
Will my insurance cover the cost of BlephEx treatment?
BlephEx is not covered by our patients’ insurance plans. At Virginia Eye Consultants, we never want a patient to forego treatment because cost is a concern. We will be happy to help you explore payment and financing options to make BlephEx treatment a reality for you.
Is BlephEx treatment painful?
No, numbing drops are used to ensure comfort. Most patients say that the BlephEx cleaning brushes tickle.
Is BlephEx a permanent treatment?
Just like a routine dental cleaning, BlephEx treatment needs to be repeated periodically as bacteria and debris re-accumulate on the eyelids.
Contact Virginia Eye Consultants
If you are troubled by the uncomfortable symptoms of blepharitis and are not achieving significant relief with home cleansing alone, you may be a good candidate for treatment with BlephEx. To learn more about your options, please contact Virginia Eye Consultants to schedule an appointment with an experienced physician.
The doctors at Virginia Eye Consultants have either authored or reviewed the content on this site.