1
Liver-kidney deficiency
- Key distinguishing signs
- Gradual blurring, dizziness, tinnitus, dry eyes, weak lower back, poor night vision
- Treatment principle
- Tonify liver-kidney and brighten the eyes
ENT & Eyeshì wù mó hú
Blurred vision
Also called:blurry sightcloudy vision
From the TCM perspective: Blurred vision: deficient nourishment or fire/phlegm rising
Overview
Blurred vision is loss of visual sharpness. TCM distinguishes chronic deficiency of liver blood/kidney essence or qi-blood failing to nourish the eye (gradual, with dizziness/dryness) from wind-fire or phlegm-heat rising (sudden, with redness/headache).
☯Common patterns (syndrome differentiation)
2
Qi-blood deficiency
- Key distinguishing signs
- Blurring after fatigue, pallor, palpitations, tiredness, pale tongue and fine pulse
- Treatment principle
- Tonify qi and blood to nourish the eyes
3
Liver yang rising
- Key distinguishing signs
- Sudden blurring with headache, dizziness, flushed face, irritability and high blood pressure
- Treatment principle
- Calm the liver and subdue yang
4
Phlegm-heat rising
- Key distinguishing signs
- Blurring with heaviness, mental fog, nausea, phlegm and bitter mouth, yellow greasy coat
- Treatment principle
- Resolve phlegm-heat and open the orifices
Daily self-care
- Get regular eye exams and check blood pressure and sugar, especially with sudden change.
- Rest eyes from screens, use good lighting and lubrication.
- Seek urgent care for any loss of visual field, flashes or a curtain over vision.
When to seek medical help
The following warning signs require prompt medical evaluation — do not rely on self-treatment:
- Sudden total or partial vision loss even if it quickly resolves.
- Severe eye pain or redness with halos and nausea.
- Blurring with severe headache, one-sided weakness or speech difficulty.
Medical disclaimer: Educational content about traditional Chinese medicine for information only; it is not a diagnosis or treatment and does not replace a qualified clinician. If symptoms worsen or warning signs appear, seek medical care.