Patient's question:
The Snow Flower is 36 years old. Previously, her health was good. A week ago, foreign matter scattered into her right eye. Now there is no redness or swelling, but when she looks at things with her right eye, she feels as if there are black shadows covering them. The doctor at the traditional Chinese medicine hospital diagnosed it as a black cloud in the eye.Doctor's answer:
Myopia is caused by multiple factors, with the primary internal cause being genetics. High myopia has a certain genetic tendency, and external factors also play a significant role in the development of myopia. The formation of myopia is primarily due to an elongated eyeball. Additionally, myopia can also be caused by conditions such as keratoconus, spherical lenses, changes in aqueous humor composition, or vitreous liquefaction. Myopia is classified into simple myopia and pathological myopia based on its nature. Simple myopia is often acquired and typically mild to moderate in degree, with stable vision that is not prone to progression and without other complications. Generally, distant vision is impaired, while near vision remains normal. Pathological myopia (axial myopia), on the other hand, is usually congenitally inherited, tends to be high in degree, and is prone to progression and instability. It is often accompanied by complications such as vitreous opacity, macular hemorrhage, or retinal detachment, and can lead to blindness.Classification of myopia degrees:
- Mild myopia (0 to -3.00D)
- Moderate myopia (-3.00D to -6.00D)
- High myopia (above -6.00D)
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that myopia is caused by insufficient congenital endowment, leading to liver and kidney deficiency, where essence and blood cannot ascend to nourish the eyes, and the divine light cannot manifest due to congenital inheritance. In acquired cases, irregular dietary habits disrupt the spleen and stomach, which are the foundation of postnatal health and the source of qi and blood transformation. A weak spleen leads to impaired ascending and descending functions, resulting in insufficient blood supply to the eyes and inability to see distant objects clearly. Overexertion in reading or studying weakens the heart's yang, causing an imbalance where yin overpowers yang. This invasion of yin depletes liver blood, which cannot nourish the eyes, leading to blocked meridians and blood stasis. The obstruction of eye meridians prevents essence and blood from nourishing the eyes, resulting in qi and blood deficiency. Prolonged overexertion in reading or studying, like meticulous carving, damages liver blood, causing dryness and thinning of meridians, and insufficient qi and blood, all of which contribute to myopia.
In mild to moderate simple myopia, qi deficiency and insufficient essence and blood are the primary pathogenic mechanisms. Under the guidance of TCM syndrome differentiation and disease identification, treatment focuses on replenishing qi, elevating blood, and aiding in blood circulation and resolving stasis to clear the mind and brighten the eyes. This restores qi and blood balance, allowing the eyes to receive nourishment and see clearly, with proven efficacy.
During the progression of high myopia, the underlying issue is retinal pathology, with pathological phenomena such as bleeding and exudation occurring. TCM considers high myopia and macular degeneration to be primarily caused by insufficient essence and blood of the liver and kidneys, as well as a weak spleen. Through syndrome differentiation and treatment, TCM aims to resolve water dampness, clear phlegm, and unblock meridians to restore normal function.