夫眼者,乃五脏之精华,如日月丽天,昭明而不可掩者也。其首尾赤 属心,其满眼白
睛属肺,其乌睛圆大属肝,其上下肉胞属脾,而中间一点黑瞳如漆者,肾实主之,是随五脏
各有症应。然论其所主,则瞳子之关系重焉,何以言之?目者肝之外候也。肝取木,肾取水
,水能生木,子肝母肾,焉有子母而能相离者哉!故肝肾之气充则精彩光明,肝肾之气乏则
昏朦眩晕。乌轮赤晕,刺痛浮肿,此肝热也。眼生清泪,枯黄绕睛,此肝虚也。瞳仁开大,
淡白偏斜,此肾虚也;瞳仁焦小,或带微黄,此肾热也;一虚一实,以此验之。然人肝肾之
气相根据而行,孰知心者神之舍,又所以为肝肾之副焉!所谓一而二,二而一者也。何则?心主
血,肝藏血,血能生热,凡热冲发于眼,皆当清心凉肝,又不可固执其水生木之说。特眼者
,轻膜裹水,照彻四方,溯源返本,非天一之水,又果孰为主宰乎?折而论之,则拘急牵飕
,瞳青胞白,痒而清泪,不赤不痛,是谓之风眼;乌轮突起,胞硬红肿,眵泪湿浆,里热刺
痛,是谓热眼。眼昏而泪,胞肿而软,上壅朦胧,酸涩微赤,是谓之气眼。其或风与热并,
则痒而浮赤;风与气搏,则痒涩昏沉。血热交聚,故生淫肤粟肉红缕偷针之类;气血不至,
故有渺视胞垂雀目盲障之形。淡紫而隐红者为虚热;鲜红而蠹赤者为实热。两 呈露,生
肉者,此心热血旺;白膜红膜如伞纸者此气滞血凝。热症瞳仁肉壅,白睛带湿,色浮而赤
者也;冷症瞳仁青绿,白睛枯槁,气沉而浊也。眼热经久,复有风冷所乘则赤烂,眼中不赤
,但为痰饮所注则作痛。肝气不顺而挟热,所以羞明。热气蓄聚伤胞所以胞合,此外症之大
概。然而五脏不可阙一,脾与肺独无预何也?曰∶白睛带赤,或红筋者,其热在肺;上胞下
睑,或目唇间如疥点者,其热在脾。脾主味也,五味之秀养诸中则精神发于外;肺主气也,
水火升降,荣卫流转,非气孰能使之。前所以五脏各有症应,于此又可推矣。虽然眼之为患
,多生于热,其间用药,大抵以清心凉肝,调血顺气为先。有如肾家恶燥,设遇虚症,亦不
过以当归地黄辈润养之,轻用温药不可也。况乎肺能发燥,肝亦好润,古方率用杏仁、干柿
、饴糖、砂蜜为佐,果非润溢之意乎?至于退翳一节,尤关利害,凡翳起于肺,肺家受热,
轻则朦胧,重则生翳。如珍珠如碎米者易散,翳状如梅花者难消。虽翳自热生,然治法先退
翳而后退热者,谓热极生翳。若先去赤热,则血为之冰而翳不能去矣。其有赤眼,凉药与之
过多,又且涤之以水,不反掌而水凝矣。眼特一团水,且水性清澄尤不可拘拘于点洗。喜
怒失节、嗜欲无度、穷役眼力、泣涕过多、凌寒冲风,当暑月日、不避烟火、饮啖热多,此
皆患生于脏腑者也。专事点洗可乎哉!有能静坐澄神,爱护目力,放怀息虑,心逸目休,调
和饮食以养之,斟酌药饵以平之,明察秋毫,断可必矣。
The eyes are the essence of the five Zang organs, like the sun and moon hanging in the sky, bright and clear, and cannot be obscured. Redness at the head and tail of the eyelids belongs to the Heart; the white sclera belongs to the Lung; the large and round black cornea/pupil area belongs to the Liver; the upper and lower eyelids belong to the Spleen; and the central black pupil, dark as lacquer, is primarily governed by the Kidney. Thus, symptoms correspond to each of the five Zang organs. However, regarding their primary governance, the relationship with the pupil is the most significant. Why is this so? Because the eyes are the external manifestation of the Liver. The Liver corresponds to Wood, and the Kidney to Water; Water generates Wood. The Liver (Wood) is the child, and the Kidney (Water) is the mother. How can a child and mother be separated? Therefore, when the Qi of the Liver and Kidney is abundant, vision is bright and clear; when it is deficient, vision becomes dim, blurred, or dizzy. Redness and swelling around the cornea with stinging pain indicate Liver Heat. Clear tears flowing from the eyes and dryness/yellowing around the eyes indicate Liver Deficiency. A dilated pupil with pale white color and deviation indicates Kidney Deficiency; a constricted, shriveled pupil with slight yellowing indicates Kidney Heat. One deficiency and one excess can be verified by these signs. However, the Qi of the Liver and Kidney moves together. Who knows that the Heart is the residence of Shen (Spirit), serving as an assistant to the Liver and Kidney! This is what is meant by "one becoming two, and two becoming one." Why? The Heart governs Blood, and the Liver stores Blood. Blood can generate Heat. Whenever Heat rushes to the eyes, one should clear the Heart and cool the Liver, yet one must not rigidly adhere to the theory that Water generates Wood. Specifically, the eye is a thin membrane wrapping water, capable of illuminating all directions. Tracing back to the source, if it is not the Water of Tian Yi (Primordial Water), who else could be the master? Analyzing differently: tightness and pulling pain, blueish pupil with white eyelids, itching with clear tears, no redness or pain, is called Wind Eye; protrusion of the cornea, hard and swollen red eyelids, discharge of pus and tears, internal heat and stinging pain, is called Heat Eye. Blurred vision with tears, swollen and soft eyelids, upper obstruction causing haziness, soreness, dryness, and slight redness, is called Qi Eye. If Wind and Heat combine, there is itching and floating redness; if Wind and Qi contend, there is itching, dryness, and heaviness/blurriness. When Blood Heat gathers, conditions such as fleshy growths on the skin, red threads, or hordeolum (stye) arise; when Qi and Blood do not reach, conditions such as blurred vision, ptosis, night blindness, or visual obstruction occur. Pale purple with hidden red indicates Deficient Heat; bright red with deep crimson indicates Excess Heat. Protrusion of the caruncle/canthus with fleshy growths indicates Heart Blood Heat and Prosperity; white and red membranes resembling umbrella paper indicate Qi Stagnation and Blood Coagulation. In Heat syndromes, the pupil area has muscular congestion, the sclera is damp, and the color is floating and red; in Cold syndromes, the pupil is green/blue, the sclera is withered, and the Qi sinks and is turbid. If Eye Heat persists for a long time and is then attacked by Wind-Cold, it results in redness and ulceration; if the eye is not red but painful due to Phlegm-Fluid accumulation, it is caused by Phlegm-Fluid. Liver Qi stagnation combined with Heat causes photophobia. Accumulation of Heat damaging the eyelids causes them to close; these are the general characteristics of external syndromes. However, the five Zang organs cannot lack any one. Why are the Spleen and Lung seemingly excluded? It is said: Redness in the sclera or presence of red veins indicates Heat in the Lung; lesions on the upper/lower eyelids or corners of the mouth/eyes resembling scabies spots indicate Heat in the Spleen. The Spleen governs taste; the essence of the five flavors nourishes the interior, and spirit manifests externally. The Lung governs Qi; the ascent and descent of Water and Fire, and the circulation of Ying and Wei (Nutritive and Defensive Qi), rely on Qi to function. As previously stated, symptoms correspond to the five Zang organs, which can be deduced here. Although eye diseases mostly arise from Heat, medication generally prioritizes clearing the Heart, cooling the Liver, regulating Blood, and smoothing Qi. The Kidney dislikes Dryness; if a Deficiency syndrome occurs, herbs like Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix) and Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix) are used for moistening and nourishing, and warm herbs should not be used lightly. Moreover, the Lung can induce Dryness, and the Liver prefers Moisture. Ancient formulas often use Xing Ren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum), dried persimmon, maltose, and honey as adjuncts, which indeed implies the intent of moistening. Regarding the removal of nebula (corneal opacity), it is particularly critical. Nebula arising from the Lung, where the Lung suffers Heat, presents as mild blurring or severe opacity. Those resembling pearls or broken rice grains are easy to dissipate; those resembling plum blossoms are difficult to eliminate. Although nebula arises from Heat, the treatment method removes nebula first and then clears Heat, because extreme Heat generates nebula. If one first removes redness and Heat, the Blood will freeze/coagulate, and the nebula cannot be removed. For those with red eyes, administering too many cooling medicines and washing with water causes the water to coagulate instantly. The eye is essentially a mass of water, and since water nature is clear, one must not rigidly rely on topical drops or washes. Loss of emotional regulation, excessive desires, overuse of eyesight, excessive crying and tearing, exposure to cold and wind, staying in summer sun without avoiding smoke/fire, and consuming too much hot/spicy food—all these cause disease originating from the Zang-Fu organs. Can one rely solely on topical treatments? Those who can sit quietly, clarify their Shen, protect their eyesight, relax their minds, cease anxious thoughts, allow the Heart to rest and the eyes to recuperate, harmonize diet to nourish, and carefully select medicine to balance, will certainly achieve clear vision.