Dry Eye
Dry eye is a disease characterized by tear film instability and/or ocular surface damage caused by abnormalities in the quantity or quality of tears or in tear fluid dynamics, resulting in ocular discomfort and visual dysfunction. Following discussions by the U.S. National Eye Institute Dry Eye Study Group in 1995, “dry eye” and “keratoconjunctivitis sicca” were treated as equivalent terms. In China, the various terms used in clinical practice (such as dry eye syndrome, dry eye disease, and dry eye disorder) have now been standardized as “dry eye,” in accordance with the 2013 Expert Consensus on Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment of Dry Eye from the Corneal Disease Group of the Ophthalmology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association. Dry eye is a common tear and ocular surface disease with the potential to damage the ocular surface. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this condition falls within the category of “Baise Zheng” (white-eye disorder).
TCM Pattern Identification and Medication Reference
| Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
After an incomplete recovery from wind-heat invasion of the eyes or epidemic red eye, or prolonged eye injury from pathogenic factors such as wind, heat, dryness, or dampness, a few fine red vessels may remain on the bulbar conjunctiva and persist, with mild redness on the inner eyelid. There may be a small amount of eye discharge, as well as light sensitivity, tearing, dryness, and discomfort; the tongue coating is thin and yellow, and the pulse is floating.
In plain language:
- Discomfort may persist after an earlier episode of “wind-heat invasion of the eyes/epidemic red eye” (similar to acute conjunctivitis) has not fully resolved, or after prolonged eye irritation from wind, heat, dryness, or dampness.
- Fine red blood vessels remain visible on the whites of the eyes and do not fade for a long time.
- The inner eyelids may also be mildly red.
- A small amount of eye discharge may be present.
- There may be light sensitivity and tearing, with dryness and a gritty or uncomfortable feeling in the eyes.
- The tongue coating is thin and slightly yellow.
- The pulse is floating on examination.
| Treatment approach
Clinical description:
Clear heat and disperse wind
In plain language:
- Disperse internal heat and ease discomfort such as fever, sore throat, thirst, and restlessness.
- Disperse wind pathogens and ease symptoms such as aversion to wind, headache, body aches, nasal congestion, and a runny nose.
| Related products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
| Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Dryness and dull pain in the eyes, often with white, frothy discharge at the corners of the eyes and slight redness of the bulbar conjunctiva; the condition is persistent and difficult to resolve. There may also be a sticky feeling in the mouth or bad breath, constipation, and scanty, dark urine; the tongue coating is yellow and greasy, and the pulse is soft and rapid.
In plain language:
- The eyes may feel dry and mildly painful.
- White, frothy discharge often collects at the corners of the eyes.
- Fine red blood vessels may be visible on the whites of the eyes, which may appear slightly red.
- The condition may persist for a long time without resolving.
- There may be a sticky feeling in the mouth or bad breath.
- Stools may be hard and difficult to pass.
- Urine may be yellow and scanty.
- The tongue coating may be yellow and greasy.
- The pulse may feel soft and rapid on examination.
| Treatment approach
Clinical description:
Clear heat and drain dampness
In plain language:
- Disperse internal heat and ease discomfort such as fever, sore throat, thirst, restlessness, and a flushed face.
- Promote urination to help clear dampness and heat, and ease symptoms such as heaviness, a sticky feeling, scanty or dark urine, abdominal bloating, poor appetite, and a thick, greasy tongue coating.
| Related products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
| Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
The eyes are dry and dull, with slight redness of the bulbar conjunctiva, burning, itching, and a gritty or painful sensation; the discharge is dry, crusted, and slightly yellow. The mouth and nose are dry; the tongue is red with little moisture, and the pulse is thin and rapid.
In plain language:
- The eyes look dry and dull, lacking a moist appearance.
- The whites of the eyes may be mildly red.
- There may be a burning or itchy sensation and a gritty, sand-like feeling.
- Eye discharge may be dry, crust easily, and look slightly yellow.
- The mouth and nose may also feel dry.
- The tongue may appear red and dry, with little moisture on its surface.
- The pulse may feel thin and rapid on examination.
| Treatment approach
Clinical description:
Nourish yin and moisten the Lungs
In plain language:
- Support fluids and internal nourishment, and ease yin-deficiency discomfort such as dry mouth and throat, afternoon heat, night sweats, and restlessness or feeling overheated.
- Moisten the respiratory tract lining and ease dry cough with little phlegm, a dry throat, hoarseness, and chest discomfort.
| Related products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
| Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
The eyes are dry and sensitive to light, with frequent blinking and blurred vision; the bulbar conjunctiva is faintly red, and symptoms worsen with prolonged visual use. Other symptoms may include dry mouth with reduced saliva, soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, dizziness, tinnitus, and restless sleep with frequent dreams; the tongue is red with a thin coating, and the pulse is thin and rapid.
In plain language:
- The eyes may feel dry and sensitive to light; both eyes may blink frequently, and vision may seem unclear.
- The whites of the eyes may be faintly red, and the discomfort may worsen after prolonged visual use.
- Other symptoms may include dry mouth with little saliva, soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, dizziness, tinnitus, and restless sleep with frequent dreams.
- The tongue may appear red with a thin coating.
- The pulse may feel thin and rapid on examination.
| Treatment approach
Clinical description:
Tonify and nourish the Liver and Kidneys
In plain language:
- Support internal nourishment and reserves, and ease soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, dizziness, tinnitus, and fatigue.
- Address blurred vision and eye dryness, as well as poor memory, and support more restful sleep and a steadier mood.
- Support musculoskeletal strength and vitality, and help ease night sweats, aversion to cold, and declining stamina.
| Related products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
References
- Jin Ming. Annotations to the TCM Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines: Ophthalmic Diseases [M]. Beijing: China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2015: 107–108.
- Duan Junguo. Integrative Chinese and Western Medicine Ophthalmology [M]. 9th ed. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House, 2013: 84–85.
- Corneal Disease Group, Ophthalmology Branch, Chinese Medical Association. Expert consensus on the clinical diagnosis and treatment of dry eye [J]. Chinese Journal of Ophthalmology, 2013, 49(1): 73–75.
- Liu Zuguo. Diagnosis of dry eye [J]. Chinese Journal of Ophthalmology, 2002, 38(5): 318–320.
- Yang Yongming. Advances in epidemiological research on dry eye [J]. International Eye Science, 2010, 10(10): 1944–1946.
- Wan Shanshan, Yang Yanning, Yuan Jing, et al. Clinical analysis of related indicators in dry eye patients evaluated using an ocular surface analyzer [J]. Chinese Journal of Optometry Ophthalmology and Visual Science, 2015, 17(3): 171–174.
- Chi Laiting, Qu Lijun. Ocular surface damage caused by drugs [J]. Chinese Journal of Chinese Ophthalmology, 2014, 24(4): 304–305.
- Xu Jianjiang. In Vivo Confocal Microscopy of the Ocular Surface [M]. Shanghai: Fudan University Press, 2009: 128–129.
- Liu Zuguo, Peng Juan. Standards for the diagnosis and treatment of dry eye [J]. Ophthalmic Research, 2008, 26(3): 161–163.
- Jin Ming, Zhang Boli, Gao Xuemin. Series on the Rational Clinical Use of Chinese Patent Medicines for Common Conditions: Ophthalmology Volume [M]. Beijing: Huaxia Publishing House, 2015: 120–158.