How effective is traditional Chinese medicine in treating myopia?

　　Myopia is something that is now quite common, and more and more people are suffering from its effects. There are many causes of myopia, and it is also very important to seek treatment for it. Traditional Chinese medicine treatments are well-known in this regard. Below, I will introduce some traditional Chinese medicine remedies for treating myopia, for your reference only.

　　How does traditional Chinese medicine treat myopia?

　　1. Wind-heat in the liver meridian

　　Eye pain, headache, photophobia and tearing, redness of the conjunctiva, tenderness of the ciliary muscles, deposits on the posterior wall of the cornea, cloudy aqueous humor, or dry mouth, a red tongue with a thin coating, and a rapid, string-like pulse.

　　Therapeutic approach: It soothes the liver, dispels wind, and clears heat.

　　Prescriptions and Medications: See creeping keratitis. If the affected eye experiences severe redness and pain, it is advisable to add Rehmannia root, Moutan bark, Salvia miltiorrhiza, and Leonurus japonicus to the formula.

　　2. Excessive liver and gallbladder fire

　　The pupils are very small; pressing on them causes severe pain that radiates to the eyebrows. The aqueous humor within the eye is cloudy, accompanied by a bitter taste in the mouth and dryness in the throat. There is also irritability and anger; the tongue is red with a yellow coating, and the pulse is tense.

　　Therapeutic approach: Clears and purges the liver and gallbladder.

　　Prescriptions and Medications: See Herpes Simplex Keratitis. Moutan bark, red peony root, and others can be added.

　　3. Rheumatism with heat component

　　Eye symptoms accompanied by a heavy head, chest tightness, soreness in the limbs, a yellow and greasy tongue coating, and a rapid or slippery pulse.

　　Therapeutic approach: Dispels wind, removes dampness, and clears heat.

　　Prescriptions and Medications: 10 grams each of Saposhnikovia divaricata, Vitex trifolia, Peucedanum praeruptorum, Notopterygium incisum, Angelica dahurica, Stephania tetrandra, and Coptis chinensis; 12 grams each of Phellodendron amurense, Anemarrhena asphodeloides, Scutellaria baicalensis, and Gardenia jasminoides; 15 grams of Rehmannia glutinosa; 45 grams of Gypsum fibrosum; 6 grams of raw Licorice root.

　　4. Flaring up of false internal heat

　　In the later stages of the disease, it becomes chronic. The redness is less pronounced or absent, but there is intermittent pain. The pupils appear dry and lack luster, and the eyes feel uncomfortable and dry. At the same time, there are symptoms such as restlessness, insomnia, hot palms and soles, a dry tongue and throat, a red tongue, and a rapid, thready pulse.

　　Therapeutic approach: Nourish yin and reduce fire, clear the liver and improve vision.

　　Prescriptions and Medications: Anemarrhena asphodeloides, Phellodendron amurense, Cornus officinalis, Alisma orientale, Dioscorea opposita, Poria cocos – each 12 grams; Rehmannia glutinosa preparata 20 grams; Moutan cortex 10 grams; Salvia miltiorrhiza 20 grams; Cassia obtusifolia 15 grams.