Add as a preferred source on Google John Cena revealed that he was recently diagnosed with Demodex blepharitis, a condition caused by an overgrowth of Demodex mites around the eyelids.
In an interview with People, the 17-time WWE world champion said he had been dealing for years with redness, itchiness, and crusting around his eyes, but believed it was all tied to aging, reading glasses, and long days on set.
“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.”
“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.”
“That’s actually how I became organically connected with Tarsus, was simply by getting an eye examination instead of trying to play at-home MD,” the athlete-turned-actor adds. “It was high time for me to get one. I’ve been very lax on seeing a professional eye doctor, and I’m so lucky and grateful I did.”
According to the Cleveland Clinic, Demodex blepharitis happens when there are too many of these mites on the eyelids, causing inflammation, itching, redness, and buildup of debris on the eyelashes.
Cena has partnered with Tarsus Pharmaceuticals to raise public awareness about the condition, which the company says affects approximately 25 million people in the United States.
Cena officially ended his in-ring career in December 2025 at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Washington, D.C. Since then, he has remained focused on his career outside WWE and on projects tied to health and entertainment.