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Colloquial sayings include the notion that "eyes will not go blind if left untreated," a belief often held by the foolish, leading to much harm. Shennong tasted hundreds of herbs out of concern for the people's illness and premature death; Hua Tuo established ophthalmology out of worry for future generations' blindness. For every disease, there is a corresponding medicine; even with medication, immediate cure is difficult, let alone without it. Diseases arise from the failure to nurture one's *Zhen Yuan* (True Origin/Vital Essence). After depletion, pathogenic factors enter due to deficiency. Once the disease manifests, failing to regulate and treat it, while being misled by foolish words, is contrary to self-care. It is like a fire breaking out: if not extinguished urgently, relying on fate, can one avoid total destruction? Delayed rescue saves only half; no rescue means total loss. For eye diseases, delayed treatment may prevent dryness and collapse of the eyeball, even if a full cure is not achieved. Thus, the idea that "untreated eyes won't go blind" is absurd. Those who spread this are foolish and unkind; those who believe it are extremely unintelligent. The phrase "not necessarily blind" is likely a phonetic error for "must become blind." Eyes are the highest orifices; Fire nature rises upward, easily exiting through orifices. Meridians are deep and fine; violating taboos leads to disease. People today neglect protection and cause more damage, making eyes susceptible to disease but hard to treat. Hence the warning: "Eyes must go blind if not treated." The word "must" emphasizes preventing minor issues from becoming major. Untreated eye disease worsens daily, leading to blindness. This is obvious to the wise. "Not necessarily blind" is a foolish lie.

Q: Treatments vary: some use only eye drops, some only oral medicine, some both. What is the rationale?
A: Diseases have internal and external aspects, requiring different treatments. If internal disease exists without external symptoms, eye drops are useless; oral internal treatment is primary. If external red veins appear at onset, it is mild pathogen; after resolution, residual pathogens remain. Drops can clear them, but combined with oral medicine is better. If internal disease starts but is not treated internally, relying only on drops may provoke pathogens and cause complications. If both internal and external symptoms exist, both treatments are necessary. People have different temperaments: some prefer pills over drops, others vice versa, both being biased. Internal disease requires oral medicine to resolve. As the ancients said: To stop the flow, block the source; to cut branches, treat the roots. Stirring soup to stop boiling is inferior to removing firewood from under the stove; this is treating the root. I do not believe internal disease cures without medicine. External films require drops to remove. As the ancients said: Clean dirt, polish mirrors. Greasy pots need washing; this is treating the branch. I do not believe external obstructions resolve without drops. Using only drops for internal disease provokes Fire, depletes Qi and Blood, causing complications. If internal disease exists without obvious external signs, adding drops to oral medicine may cause adverse reactions. For external films, oral medicine alone might work if early and soft, but formed films are hard to remove without drops. Both internal and external treatments are needed for optimal results. Thus: Treat the branch while addressing the root; treat the root while addressing the branch. Treating internal ignoring external is foolish; treating external ignoring internal is痴 (obsessed); treating both makes a good physician.