John Cena Opens Up About Demodex Blepharitis Diagnosis

John Cena recently shared details about a health issue affecting his eyes, revealing that he was diagnosed with Demodex Blepharitis after dealing with ongoing irritation and redness.

Demodex Blepharitis is an eye condition caused by microscopic mites called Demodex, which live in hair follicles and around the eyelashes. According to information from the National Institutes of Health, the condition affects an estimated 25 million Americans.

Speaking with People, John Cena explained that the condition caused his eyes to become red, itchy, and uncomfortable, prompting him to seek medical attention from an eye specialist.

“I had a lot of redness and itchiness, and every once in a while, waking up with eye crusties and stuff,” he shares. “At the same time, given my age — I’m 49 now — my vision was going a little bit, so I just figured it was par for the course. But because my vision was going, I needed to see if I needed glasses or prescriptions.”

The WWE star shared that the treatment significantly reduced the irritation and redness he had been dealing with. He also noted that one lingering symptom involved waking up with crust buildup around the eyes, something the medication helped improve as well.

“I recommend that everybody do the same. A regular eye checkup is just as important as taking care of your teeth or anything else,” he emphasizes. “The examination was easy. It’s certainly part of a regular eye exam, and the diagnosis was simple.”

While Cena mentioned he still uses reading glasses, he said the discomfort and itchiness connected to the condition have mostly cleared up since the treatment started.

“Now, I still need my readers, but I don’t have that redness, that itchiness and certainly not waking up with the crusties,” Cena shares.

Cena last appeared in WWE at Backlash, where he announced the John Cena Classic Tournament. Outside of WWE, Cena has remained active in film, television, and media, while continuing to make selective wrestling appearances.

When asked to give advice, especially with WWE, I often reply
‘be authentic’
‘do not fear failure’
‘know your why.’
The John Cena Classic may not be perfect by any means yet it’s authentically me (I am not perfect either) and reflects my values and beliefs.
I’m aware that…

— John Cena (@JohnCena) May 10, 2026