Blurred vision, commonly known as "eye dazzle," refers to unclear and dim vision.

This symptom Suwen . Zhizhenyao Da Lun is called "eye dimness." Zhubing Yuanhou Lun refers to it as "eye haziness." Qianjin Fang then calls it "eye dimness." Suwen Xuanji Yuanbingshi refers to it as "blurred vision." Later, based on the different symptoms described by patients, various medical practitioners throughout history have also called it "eye darkness" (Huangdi Suwen Xuanming Lunfang ), "eye obscurity" (Yizong Bidu ), "hazy vision" (Yinhai Jingwei ), "blurred vision dimness" (Shenshi Yaohan ), and "hazy sight" (Mujing Dacheng ). It is now uniformly referred to as "blurred vision."

bubble_chart Pattern Analysis

1. Wind Phlegm︰The main symptoms are blurred vision, frequent twitching of the eyelids, dizziness, chest tightness, reduced appetite with excessive sleepiness, excessive phlegm, nausea and vomiting, white and greasy tongue coating, and wiry-slippery pulse. It is caused by phlegm-dampness obstructing the middle, spleen deficiency with liver excess, and liver wind mixed with phlegm disturbing the seven orifices. The key diagnostic points are blurred vision, heaviness of the head, and frequent twitching of the eyelids. Due to phlegm-dampness obstructing the middle, accompanying symptoms include chest tightness and hypochondriac distension. The treatment should focus on dispersing wind and resolving phlegm, and the recommended prescription is Pinellia Gastrodia Tuber White Atractylodes Rhizome Decoction.
2. Liver Qi Depression︰The symptoms include blurred vision, eye distension, dizziness, bitter taste in the mouth, mental depression, pain in both hypochondriac regions, a red tongue with white coating, and a wiry and rapid pulse. It is mostly caused by stagnation of the seven emotions, liver qi stagnation, and the liver failing to act freely. The key points for pattern identification are blurred vision, dizziness, eye distension, distending pain in both hypochondriac regions, which worsen with emotional distress. The treatment involves soothing the liver and relieving depression, and the recommended prescription is Peripatetic Powder, an empirical formula.
3. Heart-liver Blood Deficiency︰Blurred vision, dry eyes, worsened by fatigue. Accompanied by dull complexion, palpitation and insomnia, pale lips and tongue, and weak, thin pulse. The liver stores blood, and the heart governs blood. If there is liver blood deficiency, blood cannot nourish the eye orifices above; insufficiency of heart blood leads to depletion of heart nutrients, and blood fails to nourish the eyes, resulting in the dissipation of divine light. Hence, the condition manifests as blurred vision, with key diagnostic points being blurred vision, eye dryness, restlessness, insomnia, dull complexion, pale tongue, and thin pulse. The treatment focuses on tonifying blood and nourishing the liver, using the formula Four Ingredients Decoction combined with Heart-Nourishing Elixir.
4. Spleen Qi Deficiency︰Blurred vision with weak eyelids, easily fatigued when looking at objects, accompanied by a shallow yellow complexion, fatigue and weakness, poor appetite, loose stools, weak pulse, slightly red tongue with thin white coating. Excessive contemplation, consumption of spleen qi, or improper diet, or deficiency of spleen and stomach qi after a major illness, leading to dysfunction in transportation and transformation. zang-fu organs fail to distribute essence to the seven orifices, resulting in illness. The key diagnostic points include blurred vision, weak eyelids, and easy fatigue when looking at objects, along with symptoms such as shortness of qi, reluctance to speak, mental fatigue, lack of strength, and weak pulse. Treatment involves tonifying the middle and replenishing qi, with the prescription of Middle-Tonifying Qi-Replenishing Decoction.
5. Liver-kidney Yin Deficiency︰Blurring vision, dry eyes, accompanied by dizziness, tinnitus, aching pain in the waist and knees, seminal emission, night sweats, dry and sore throat, red tongue, thready and rapid pulse. Liver-kidney yin deficiency, depletion of essence and blood, essential qi failing to nourish the upper body, leading to blurred vision due to lack of nourishment in the eyes. The key diagnostic features include dim vision, dry mouth and eyes, soreness and weakness in the waist and knees, along with symptoms of yin deficiency with internal heat. Treatment involves nourishing water to moisten wood, and the recommended formula is Left-Restoring Pill.
6. Decline of the Life Gate Fire︰Dim vision, pale complexion, cold body and limbs, impotence, premature ejaculation, spontaneous sweating, frequent nocturia, deep and thready weak pulse. Mostly caused by aging and physical decline, excessive fatigue, prolonged illness and lack of nourishment, leading to depletion of original qi. The key diagnostic points include dim vision, cold body and limbs, aching pain in the lower back, frequent nocturia, and deep slow weak pulse. Treatment should focus on warming and tonifying the life gate. The recommended prescription is Right-Restoring Pill.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. 《Chinese Medicine Clinical Essentials: Eye Symptoms》: "Dizzy vision, '眩' refers to blurred and confused vision... commonly known as 'eye dazzle'. It is often referred to together with vertigo, and they frequently appear simultaneously in clinical settings, but '眩' means dimness, while '暈' means spinning, and the two are distinct. In mild cases, it pertains to the liver, as Shen Jin'ao said: 'When blood and qi decline and the liver lobes thin, the gallbladder and liver diminish'; in severe cases, it pertains to the kidney, as Zhu Danxi said: 'The causes of eye diseases are nothing more than deficiency, deficiency leads to blurred vision, due to the depletion of the true water of the kidney meridian.'"