眼赤肿痛，古方用药内外不同。在内汤、散，则用苦寒、辛凉以泻其火；在外点、洗，则用辛热、辛凉以散其
邪，故点药莫要于冰片。冰片性大辛热。故借以拔出火邪而散其热气也。有用烧酒洗眼，或用姜末、姜汁点眼
者，皆此意也。盖赤眼是火邪内炎，上攻于目。内治药用苦寒，是治其本，如锅底之去薪也。然火邪既客于目，
从内出外，若外用寒凉以阻逆之，则火郁内攻，不得散矣，故点药用辛热而洗眼用热汤，是火郁发之，从治法
也。○人乳点眼，久病昏暗者极效。以乳与血同源，目得血而能视也。（王节斋）
凡火眼赤涩，以自己小便出时，用指接抹眼中，日三、四次，闭目少顷，神效。此用真水涤去邪热也。（《医学纲目》）
选案
鲍铁匠，铁出炉，一花射入目中，痛倒在地。招予视之，张
其目，拨出铁花，大如豆瓣。在黑白珠交界之所，瞳人未伤。命取新汲水磨陈墨浓汁频涂，少时痛止安卧，次
日竟得无恙。或问用墨何意？予曰∶水胜火，黑胜红，五行相制之义。（许宣治）
张石虹老师病目，芩、连、栀、柏无往不投，两目收束，上皮浮肿盖下，诊脉两尺浮大，右关浮软，予曰∶
脾肾俱虚，寒药所误。用六君加柴胡、归、芍，六味加柴胡、枸杞间服，二日全消。（程华仲）
一人眼睛突出一二寸，以新汲水灌渍，数易之，自入。（《同寿录》）
晋范宁目疾，就张湛求方。湛戏曰∶损读书一；减思虑二；专内视三；简外观四；宜起晚五；宜早眠六。
凡六物，熬以神火，下以气筛，蕴于胸中，纳诸方寸，修之一年，近能数其目睫，远视尺棰之影。常服不已，
洞见垣外矣。虽是嘲戏，亦奇方也。（《本事方》）
附方
洗方 治赤眼、烂弦风。防风、归尾、赤芍、黄柏、蝉蜕、胆矾，各等分。煎汤熏洗，早晚二次。
Redness, swelling, and pain of the eyes: ancient prescriptions differed in internal and external medication. For internal decoctions and powders, bitter-cold and acrid-cool herbs are used to drain fire; for external eye drops and washes, acrid-hot and acrid-cool herbs are used to disperse pathogenic factors. Therefore, among eye drops, borneol (Bingpian) is the most essential. Borneol has a strongly acrid and hot nature. Thus, it is employed to extract fire pathogens and disperse heat. Some use distilled liquor to wash the eyes, or apply ginger powder or ginger juice as eye drops; all these follow this principle. Generally, red eye results from fire pathogens flaring internally and attacking upward to the eyes. Internal treatment with bitter-cold herbs addresses the root cause, akin to removing firewood from under a pot. However, once fire pathogens lodge in the eyes and move outward, if cold and cooling agents are applied externally to obstruct them, the fire will become depressed and attack inward, failing to dissipate. Hence, using acrid-hot substances for eye drops and hot water for washing follows the method of "venting depression due to fire" (Huo Yu Fa Zhi), which is a contrary treatment approach. ○ Human milk applied to the eyes is extremely effective for chronic conditions causing dim vision. This is because milk and blood share the same origin, and the eyes require blood nourishment to see. (Wang Jiezhai)
For fiery eyes with redness and dryness/itchiness, one can collect urine during urination, apply it to the eyes with a finger three or four times daily, and keep the eyes closed for a moment. This yields miraculous effects. This utilizes true water (Kidney Water) to cleanse away pathogenic heat. (*Medical Outline*)
Selected Cases
Blacksmith Bao had an iron spark fly into his eye while working with molten iron, causing him to fall to the ground in pain. I was summoned to examine him. He opened his eye, and I extracted the spark, which was the size of a broad bean. It lodged at the junction of the cornea (Hei Zhu) and sclera (Bai Zhu), without injuring the pupil. I instructed him to grind aged ink in fresh well water to make a thick solution and apply it frequently. The pain ceased shortly after, and he slept peacefully. The next day, he recovered completely. Someone asked why ink was used. I replied: Water overcomes Fire, and Black overcomes Red; this illustrates the principle of mutual restraint among the Five Elements. (Xu Xuanzhi)
Teacher Zhang Shihong suffered from an eye disease. Treatments involving Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin), Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian), Gardeniae Fructus (Zhizi), and Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai) were universally administered. His eyes appeared constricted, with upper eyelid edema covering the lower lid. His pulse was floating and large at both Chi positions, and floating and soft at the right Guan position. I stated: Both Spleen and Kidney are deficient, mismanaged by cold medicines. I prescribed Liu Jun Zi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction) added with Bupleuri Radix (Chaihu), Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Danggui), and Paeoniae Radix Alba (Baishao), alternating with Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia) added with Bupleuri Radix (Chaihu) and Lycii Fructus (Gouqi). After two days, the symptoms completely resolved. (Cheng Huazhong)
A person’s eyeball protruded by one or two inches. It was immersed repeatedly in fresh well water until it retracted naturally. (*Tongshou Lu*)
Fan Ning of the Jin Dynasty suffered from an eye ailment and sought a prescription from Zhang Zhan. Zhang jokingly advised: Reduce reading by one unit; reduce mental deliberation by two units; focus on inner visualization by three units; simplify external observation by four units; rise late by five units; sleep early by six units. These six items are processed with divine fire, filtered by breath, stored in the chest, and placed in the heart palace (Fangcun). Practiced for one year, one could count their own eyelashes up close and see the shadow of a ruler-length stick from afar. Continuous long-term use would allow one to see through walls. Although spoken as a jest, it is indeed a remarkable prescription. (*Ben Shi Fang*)
Attached Formulas
Wash Formula: Treats red eye and blepharitis (Lan Xian Feng). Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fangfeng), Angelicae Sinensis Radix (Dangguiwei), Paeoniae Radix Rubra (Chishao), Phellodendri Cortex (Huangbai), Bombyx Batryticatus (Chantui), and Chalcanthite (Danfan), each in equal parts. Decoct in water for fumigation and washing, twice daily, morning and evening.