Eyes Yellow Eyes, Fire Erupting from the Eyes, Seeing Ghosts, Blurred Vision, Red Eyeballs

Eyes (Yellow Eyes, Fire Erupting from the Eyes, Seeing Ghosts, Blurred Vision, Red Eyeballs)

The eyes are the orifices of the liver, and they are also surrounded by the Yangming meridian network; therefore, any eye disease is ultimately attributable to the liver and stomach meridians.

If the eyeballs are yellow, it indicates damp-heat in the stomach meridian; in severe cases, the entire body may turn yellow, and urination will inevitably be impaired. In such cases, Wuling Powder combined with Yinchen, Zhizi, Qinpi, Phellodendron, and Anemarrhena is indicated for treatment. If it is due to blood stasis and heat in the liver meridian, as stated by Zhang Zhongjing, when patients with nosebleeds have yellow eyes, it means the bleeding has not yet stopped, indicating there is heat in the blood. In all cases of blood heat, the eyes tend to be yellow, and Siwu Decoction combined with Bupleurum, Scutellaria, Moutan Bark, Sappanwood, Yinchen, and Safflower is used for treatment. Red eyeballs also indicate blood stasis, and the treatment is similar to the above.

When fire erupts from the eyes, it can be due to excessive stomach fire, which is usually accompanied by symptoms such as thirst and fever; in such cases, Xijiao Dihuang Decoction combined with Gypsum, Hua Tianfen, Honeysuckle, and Citrus Aurantium is used for treatment. Alternatively, it may be due to liver fire spreading outward, which is usually accompanied by symptoms such as bitter taste and tinnitus; in these cases, Danggui Luhui Pill is used for treatment. When ghosts are seen in the eyes, it may be due to dry stool in the stomach, causing blurred vision; in such cases, San Yi Chengqi Tang is used for treatment. Alternatively, it may be due to stagnant heat in the liver meridian's blood chamber, leading to delirium at night; in such cases, Dachaihu Decoction combined with Peach Kernel and Moutan Bark is used for treatment.

Eye twitching is caused by wind-fire in the liver; observing epilepsy can provide insight. In such cases, Xiaochaihu Decoction combined with Danggui, Bai Shao, Fangfeng, and Chrysanthemum is recommended for treatment. Blurred vision is due to yin deficiency in the kidneys; the pupil belongs to the kidney, and when pathogenic heat invades, black spots or even five-colored visions may appear. In such cases, Dihuang Decoction combined with Goji berries, Cinnabar, Magnetite, Cistanche, Stonecrop, Yuanshen, Anemarrhena, and Asarum is recommended for treatment.

There are also cases of yang deficiency, where after massive blood loss, the eyes become wide open and unable to see clearly, often accompanied by frequent urination. In such cases, Shenqi Pills are recommended.

All the above-mentioned conditions are diseases commonly seen in blood-related cases. Other eye diseases that are not associated with blood deficiency will not be discussed further.

[Commentary] This section discusses the treatment principles for eye-related syndromes in a concise and precise manner. Yellow eyes are categorized into two types: damp-heat in the stomach meridian and stagnation-heat in the liver meridian. The former is treated with Yinchen Wuling Powder, while the latter is treated with Siwu Decoction combined with Bupleurum and Yinchen. When fire erupts from the eyes, it refers to external eye inflammation, which is treated with Xijiao Dihuang Decoction combined with Gypsum, Hua Tianfen, and Honeysuckle, or with Danggui Luhui Pill. When ghosts are seen in the eyes, it indicates dry stool in the stomach; eye twitching is caused by wind-fire in the liver meridian. The former is treated with Da Chengqi Tang to purge, while the latter is treated with Xiaochaihu Decoction combined with Chrysanthemum to calm the mind. Red eyeballs indicate blood stasis in the liver meridian, and occasional black spots or five-colored visions indicate kidney yin deficiency. The former is treated with Siwu Decoction combined with Bupleurum, Scutellaria, and other blood-circulating agents, while the latter is treated with Qiju Dihuang Pill combined with Cinnabar and Magnetite.