Dry & Tired Eyes

What’s a typical treatment plan for someone suffering from dry eyes or eye fatigue? Are there any stories of patients who’ve had dramatic improvement with TCM therapies like acupuncture or eye exercises?

TCM offers a holistic approach to helping individuals manage dry eyes and eye fatigue, addressing the root causes of the conditions on top of the symptoms. Accordingly, the health ofthe eyes is closely linked to the function of internal organs, particularly the Liver and Kidneys.

Typical TCM Therapy

A typical TCM therapy supporting dry eyes or eye fatigue often involves a combination of modalities tailored to the individual’s specific diagnosis.

• Herbal Medicine: TCM practitioners prescribe a customized formula of herbs, often in the form of herbal powder. These formulas are designed to address the underlying imbalances causing the respective eye issues. Common herbs used for eye health include:

o Goji Berries (GouQiZi): Known for their ability to nourish the Liver and Kidneys, and improve vision.

o Chrysanthemum (JuHua): Used to clear heat from the Liver and relieve eye redness and irritation.

o Rehmannia Root (ShengDiHuang / ShuDiHuang): A Blood and Yin tonic that can help with vision problems related to deficiency.

o Mulberry (SangShen): Valued for its ability to nourish Yin and Blood, which helps to soothe the eyes, relieve eye fatigue, and improve vision.

o Mulberry Leaf (SangYe): Known for its ability to clear heat and calm the Liver, often used to relieve eye redness, swelling, and soreness.

o Dendrobium (ShiHu): Valued for nourishing yin and generating fluids, which is highly beneficial for relieving dryness in the eyes and body.

o Cassia Seed (JueMingZi): Known for its ability to clear heat from the Liver and brighten the eyes.

• Eye Acupuncture: By inserting fine needles into specific acupoints on the body, a practitioner aims to restore the flow of Qi (life energy) and Blood. Acupoints used for eye conditions are often located on the head and face, such as around the eyebrows and eye orbit, but also on other parts of the body like the hands and feet, which correspond to the Liver and Kidney meridians. Research has shown that acupuncture can increase tear production, improve tear film stability, and reduce inflammation.
  • Acupressure and Eye Exercises: Affected individuals are often guided simple acupressure techniques to perform on their own. Massaging specific points around the eyes, like 攒竹CuanZhu (at the inner edge of the eyebrows) and 承泣ChengQi (directly below the eye socket), can help relieve tension, improve blood flow, and alleviate eye strain.
  • Dietary and Lifestyle Recommendations: TCM emphasizes the importance of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. Affected individuals are often advised to eat foods that nourish the Liver and Kidneys, such as leafy greens, colorful fruits and vegetables, and fatty fishes rich in Omega-3 etc. Avoiding excessive screen time, getting sufficient rest (especially during the hours of 11 PM to 3 AM, which are associated with the Liver meridian), and managing stress are also considered crucial for maintaining eye health.

Patient Feedback

1. Dramatically Improved Eye Comfort and Hydration

Patients frequently report significant relief from common dry eye symptoms, often impacting their daily routines:

• Reduced Dryness and Dependency on Eye Drops: Many patients may significantly drag out the intervals between using eye drops, with some reporting their eyes feel less dry overall.
  • Morning Symptoms Eliminated: Patients have experienced a dramatic reduction in eye discharge, with some stating they wake up with no more sticky secretions in their eyes.
  • Less Effort to See: Patients report they no longer need to blink or force blink their eyes so much to try and squeeze out tears to relieve dryness.

2. Enhanced Visual Stamina and Screen Tolerance

Improvements in how long patients can comfortably use their eyes for work and leisure activities are common:

• Extended Screen Time: Patients may now use screens for a longer duration before the onset of blurry vision or eye fatigue.
  • Delayed Fatigue: Some report that eye fatigue only begins to set in at a much later part of the day, or only at night.
  • Improved Work Functionality: Patients who require protective eyewear can now put on their safety goggles at work for a longer duration before discomfort starts setting in.

3. Better Quality of Life and Immediate Benefits

These improvements highlight the impact on overall well-being and the noticeable effectiveness of the TCM therapies:

• Safer Driving: A patient no longer need to close their eyes at traffic junctions while driving due to eye fatigue, eliminating the risk of falling asleep.
  • Immediate & Sustained Energy: Some describe their eyes feeling “energetic and have sharp vision for about 2-3 days” after acupuncture, likening it to a “full charge of battery”.
  • Visible Change and Comfort: Some simply state they “can open their eyes bigger now” and “see more things”.
  • Tangible Efficacy of Herbs: Patients report they “feel the difference straight away” if they miss a single dose of their prescribed herbal medication, underscoring its efficacy.

Clinical Evidence of Improvement

While individual patient stories can be anecdotal, there are published studies and reports of people experiencing significant improvement with TCM therapies.

• Singapore Clinical Trial: A notable collaboration between the Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI) and the Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institution (SCHMI) conducted a clinical trial on 150 dry eye patients. The study compared the effects of artificial tears alone, artificial tears with herbal medicine, and artificial tears with acupuncture.
  • Dramatic Results: The results showed that the group receiving eye drops and acupuncture experienced the greatest improvement, with a reported 88% improvement in their symptoms after eight 20-minute sessions over a 30-day period. The study measured improvements using high-tech diagnostic equipment and patient questionnaires, and no negative side effects were observed.
  • Qualitative Experiences: Patients participating in the study described their experiences positively. The study highlighted that dry eye is a condition linked to modern living and that a “community approach” with alternative therapies like TCM will be good.
  • Increased Tear Production: Other studies have also provided evidence for TCM’s effectiveness. One study on acupuncture found that it successfully increased tear meniscus parameters (height, depth, and area) in patients with certain types of dry eyes, indicating a measurable increase in tear production.

These examples suggest that for many individuals, TCM therapies can provide a viable and effective alternative or complementary therapy for managing chronic eye conditions like dry eye syndrome and eye fatigue.