凡脏腑之精华,皆上注于目,然所以能光烛远近者,阳之用也。济之以令光明不竭
者,阴之力也。阴阳合德而为精明,非气血独能充其力也。盖气血止为阴阳之标,非即
可以称精华也。而阴阳实为气血之本,所以能致精华也。阴亏则热,故病于目也。红赤
暴痛,眼珠刺疼,夜则更甚,然虽极肿极疼。若视物则能见,岂非阴虚则热,而邪火
乘之,益耗其精神,无以为佐助清阳之用,所以赤肿刺疼,虽不能开目,而开则视物仍
见,可见阴病而阳不病,是为有火者也。阳虚则寒,故病于目也。白翳遮睛,珠不甚
痛,或全不痛,但如青盲,仍能开目,而视物则不见,岂非阳虚则寒,而浊阴犯之,遂
失其如天与日之光而不彰乎?乃阳气自病,是为无火者也。热者,补其真阴,六味汤;
寒者,补其真阳,八味汤。如是则阴阳自复,复能合德而为精明之用矣。(张)幼年
时苦病目,及长而知医,寤寐求之,始得其理,既自济获效,复以是法济人,不论老幼
男女,产后痘后。投无不应。《经》所谓∶知其要者,一言而终。诸病真阴真阳之谓
欤!或以为疑,请以浅近易见之理而喻之,犹灯之能明者火也。资其明之用者,脂膏
也。有脂膏而无火,何以能明?有火而无脂膏,则燎然猛烈,力穷乃止,二者,偏废其
一,便难以成光明之象矣。所谓火中求水,其源不竭,水中求火,其明不灭,一属有
形,一属无形,惟其无形,故能生出有形,盖造化之理,皆生于无也。
The essence of all zang-fu organs ascends and gathers in the eyes. However, the ability to see clearly at both near and far distances relies on the function of Yang (Yang Qi). The force that sustains this and prevents the light from exhausting is the power of Yin (Yin Qi). When Yin and Yang harmonize, they form "Jingming" (sharp vision), which cannot be achieved by Qi and Blood alone. Generally, Qi and Blood are merely the manifestations (biao) of Yin and Yang and cannot be directly termed as "essence." In contrast, Yin and Yang are the root of Qi and Blood, thus generating the essence.
If Yin is deficient, heat arises, leading to eye diseases. Symptoms include redness, acute swelling, and severe pain, with stabbing pain in the eyeballs worsening at night. Although the swelling and pain are extreme, if the patient can still see objects when looking, it indicates that Yin deficiency generates internal heat, allowing pathogenic fire to invade and further consume the spirit. This depletion prevents the assistance of clear Yang, resulting in redness, swelling, and stabbing pain. Even though opening the eyes is difficult, once opened, vision remains possible. This demonstrates a disease of Yin without disease of Yang, characterizing a condition with "fire" (excess heat).
If Yang is deficient, cold arises, also leading to eye diseases. Symptoms include white nebulae obscuring the pupil, with little or no pain in the eyeball. The vision resembles "Qingmang" (blindness with normal appearance), where the patient can open their eyes but cannot see objects. This indicates that Yang deficiency generates internal cold, allowing turbid Yin to invade, thereby losing the brilliance akin to the sky and sun. This represents a self-disease of Yang, characterizing a condition without "fire" (deficiency cold).
For heat conditions, tonify True Yin using Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill); for cold conditions, tonify True Yang using Bawei Dihuang Wan (Eight-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill). Through this approach, Yin and Yang naturally restore themselves and resume their harmonious function of sharp vision.
During his youth, Zhang [Feng Chuzhan] suffered greatly from eye diseases. Upon mastering medicine in adulthood, he sought its principles day and night, eventually understanding the underlying logic. After achieving efficacy in self-treatment, he applied this method to help others. Regardless of age, gender, or whether the condition followed childbirth or smallpox, his prescriptions were invariably effective. As stated in the *Classic* (*Huangdi Neijing*): "He who knows the essentials needs only one word to conclude." This refers to the True Yin and True Yang of various diseases.
Some may harbor doubts; let us use a simple analogy: Just as a lamp shines due to fire, the substance that fuels this brightness is oil/wax. With oil/wax but no fire, how can there be light? With fire but no oil/wax, the flame burns fiercely until exhausted. If either element is neglected, the phenomenon of light cannot be formed. Therefore, seeking water within fire ensures the source does not dry up; seeking fire within water ensures the light does not extinguish. One belongs to the tangible (form), the other to the intangible (Qi/Spirit). Because it is intangible, it can generate the tangible. Indeed, the principle of creation stems from the "non-being" (Wu).