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Floaters, formally known in modern medicine as "vitreous opacity or liquefaction," occur because the vitreous body inside the eye, which originally has a jelly-like consistency, degenerates and liquefies with age or overuse. The unmetabolized fibrous residues form suspended matter within the eye, which are the so-called "floaters." Patients may see suspended objects in their visual field such as fine threads, dark shadows, or translucent specks and clumps. These are particularly noticeable in bright environments and, in severe cases, can obscure the visual field and affect eyesight. When the head and eyes are stationary, floaters may settle at the bottom of the eyeball and temporarily disappear from view, but shaking the head or moving the eyes can stir these suspended particles back into the visual field.

Modern individuals are prone to eye strain, leading to premature degeneration of the vitreous body. This condition is nearly untreatable in Western ophthalmology, which often attributes it to aging. If not complicated by retinal pathology, patients are usually advised to live with it, as there is a lack of potent and effective pharmaceutical treatments. Laser vitreolysis is not a mainstream choice due to its relatively high risks. However, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers potential for improvement. TCM has documented records and therapies for this condition since ancient times, referring to it as "Fog Moving before Eye".

Causes and Pattern Treatment

Floaters have been thoroughly discussed and treated in ancient Chinese medicine. Under TCM's holistic perspective, this condition results from the interplay of multiple internal and external factors. Floaters are merely a local manifestation of systemic imbalance and can be improved through holistic regulation. Herbal treatment aims to address the imbalance at its source, targeting different patterns (pattern = a specific state of bodily imbalance) with pattern-specific formulas:

• Deficiency of Both Qi and Blood: The internal organs (Zang-Fu) are the source of Qi and Blood. If the digestive system's function is poor, exhibiting Spleen Qi Deficiency, leading to inadequate nutrient absorption and generation of Qi and Blood, then Spleen Qi is tonified. If the heart's pumping force is weak or the lung's ventilation function is insufficient, then Heart and Lung Qi are supplemented, and the Heart and Lungs are strengthened. Qi and Blood Deficiency is like a drying up water source; the vitreous body, deprived of sufficient nourishment, degenerates and liquefies prematurely, forming floaters. Improving the supply of Qi and Blood to the eyes can maintain clear vision; even minor issues will heal quickly.
• Liver Blood Deficiency: "Liver Storing Blood". Modern medicine finds that the liver stores large amounts of glycogen, fat, fat-soluble vitamins, minerals, etc., supplying the body's needs. "Liver Open Into Eyes"; many nutrients required by the eyes (such as Vitamin A) are also stored in the liver. If the body is overworked and excessively depleted, exhausting the nutritional reserves in the liver, it leads to the imbalanced state of Liver Blood Deficiency, affecting eyesight. Modern people often overuse their eyes. Classical TCM states "prolonged seeing damages the blood." Once the liver's stored supplies are depleted and cannot fully nourish the eyes, they become prone to dryness, fatigue, and problems. Many Chinese herbs can "tonify Liver Blood," such as Chrysanthemum, Wolfberry, and Cassia Seed; these actually contain various nutrients needed by the eyes.
• Kidney Yin Deficiency: "Kidney Storing Essence". The Kidneys store surplus nutritional essence remaining after daily consumption for future use. Modern medicine finds that under stress, the adrenal glands can quickly mobilize stored resources, breaking them down into fuel for the body's urgent needs. If a person is frequently under high stress, high energy consumption, overwork, or unrestrained sexual conduct, the body's stored supplies can be depleted, forming the imbalanced state of Kidney Water Deficiency. TCM believes the vitreous body is governed by the "Kidneys." Overworked eyes lacking sufficient supply of materials easily become diseased. Many Chinese herbs can "tonify Kidney Water"; they actually contain various nutrients required by the body.
• Qi and Blood Stasis and Obstruction: The operation and maintenance of the eyes require the supply of Qi and Blood. If there is stasis or obstruction in the circulatory pathways, whether due to trauma or turbid blood, even sufficient Qi and Blood will struggle to reach the eyes smoothly, accelerating eye degeneration. If signs of Qi and Blood stasis are present, treatment methods to activate blood circulation and resolve stasis are used. Overusing the eyes not only consumes nutrients but also produces a large amount of metabolic waste. If local Qi and Blood circulation is poor, this waste accumulates around and inside the eyeball, forming an obstructed micro-environment. This hinders the delivery of fresh nutrients and oxygen and affects waste removal, accelerating vitreous degeneration and making it difficult for the body to absorb and metabolize existing floaters. Stiffness and soreness upon pressing around the eye socket are clear evidence of poor circulation.
• Meridian Blockage: Several meridians connect directly or indirectly to the eyes. If blockages occur in the meridians due to trauma, external contraction of wind-cold, or Qi and Blood stasis, the information regulation for the eyes becomes impaired, affecting their regulatory function.

Acupuncture Treatment

Besides taking Chinese medicinals, acupuncture is the fastest-acting treatment. Some patients feel the "floaters" become smaller or lighter immediately during the first acupuncture session; in less severe cases, the "floaters" may even disappear on the spot. There are also cases of patients with severe floaters experiencing an immediate 40-50% reduction after one session, astonishing the patients! There are even cases where floaters that have been present for over a decade almost completely disappeared after more than ten acupuncture sessions.

The mechanisms of acupuncture's efficacy are:

• Dredging the meridians and regulating Qi and Blood: Acupuncture can quickly unblock the meridians and Qi-Blood circulation inside and outside the eyeball, clearing the pathways for information, energy, and material transmission. This enhances the metabolic rate of the vitreous body, promoting the dissolution and fading of floaters, addressing both the branch (symptoms) and root (cause). Hence, it can take effect rapidly and immediately, making the visual field feel brighter and the "floaters" appear lighter, smaller, or even temporarily vanish. This is proof of improved circulation and activated metabolism.
• Regulating the Zang-Fu organs, tonifying deficiency and draining excess: Through distal point selection, acupuncture can instantly regulate the functions of organs like the Liver, Kidneys, and Spleen, supplementing their deficiencies and draining their excess, thereby supporting eye repair at a systemic level. This is especially true for the Liver and Kidneys, as classical TCM believes "Liver Open Into Eyes", while the vitreous body inside the eye is governed by the Kidneys.

Treatment point selection:

• Distal point selection: Initially, focusing on distal points (points on the hands and feet) alone can show significant effects. Commonly used points include Taichong (LV3), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Fuliu (KI7), Guangming (GB37), as well as extraordinary points related to eye diseases. This is safe and effective.
• Local point selection: If distal points are ineffective or improvement plateaus, points near the eyeball can be added, such as Zanzhu (BL2), Tongziliao (GB1), Jingming (BL1), Chengqi (ST1), Qiuhou (EX-HN7). Techniques may even involve deep insertion along the outer edge of the eyeball into the orbit to directly release stiff tissues around the eye and improve peri-ocular circulation.

General treatment course:

• Acupuncture: It is recommended to receive acupuncture 2-3 times per week, with 6 sessions constituting one course. Effects are evaluated after a course to decide the subsequent treatment plan.
• Concurrently with acupuncture, taking Chinese herbs for at least about 4-8 weeks is also recommended to fundamentally regulate the Zang-Fu organs' functions, thereby enhancing and consolidating the therapeutic effects.

Some patients respond poorly to acupuncture, possibly due to:

• Still frequently using their eyes without sufficient rest, causing new floaters to form before old ones disappear.
• Staying up late or suffering from insomnia.
• Overwork, insufficient rest, or lack of moderation in sexual activity.
• The suspended matter in the eye is too dense and compact, making it difficult to dissolve and break down.

DIY Acupressure

Spending a few minutes daily on eye massage and health exercises, persistently, is the brightest and most visionary investment for the future. Eye acupressure, finger scraping around the eyes, eye movement exercises, and near-far focusing exercises can all improve the Qi-Blood circulation of the eyeballs, eliminate metabolic waste from the eyes, bring needed nutrients, and exercise and relax the eye muscles.

Eye acupressure: There are 7 acupoints around the eyes (Jingming (BL1), Zanzhu (BL2), Yuyao (EX-HN4), Sizhukong (SJ23), Tongziliao (GB1), Chengqi (ST1), Sibai (ST2)), all located in local depressions or along the edge of the orbital bone. Press them in turn, being careful not to press on the eyeball. The dorsal side of the thumb joint has three small points: Dagukong (DGK), Mingyan (MY), and Fengyan (FY), located in the middle of the joint and in the central depression on the sloped sides of the joint. Press alternately on left and right hands. On the back of the hand, anterior to the 2nd and 3rd metacarpophalangeal joints, is the Shangbai point, which also has eye health benefits. Slightly flex the palm and use a finger to find a small hollow; that is the point.

Acupressure method: Acupoints are mostly located at the most depressed spot locally; pressing should elicit a slight soreness to be correct. Bend your finger and use the protrusion on the dorsal side of the finger joint as a massage stick to gently press the points. Spend a few minutes daily pressing them in batches. Avoid excessive force or over-pressing. If light touch causes pain, it indicates the point is already injured and should not be pressed further.

Dietary Therapy

Those who use their eyes intensively can usually eat more of these ingredients that provide eye nutrition:

• Many food-grade Chinese herbs (such as Wolfberry, Chrysanthemum, Cassia Seed, Ligustrum, Broussonetia Fruit, Mulberry, etc.) are rich in nutrients needed by the eyes. Among them, taking a small pinch each of Chrysanthemum, Wolfberry, and Cassia Seed to brew tea is the simplest and most effective eye protection formula.
• Fruits and vegetables: Blueberries, kiwis, tomatoes, apples, spinach, kale, etc., are rich in eye nutrients (like Vitamin A, C, Lutein, Anthocyanins, Selenium), but be careful not to overeat very sweet fruits to avoid weight gain!
• Cod Liver Oil: Rich in Vitamin A. Note: Cod Liver Oil ≠ Fish Oil. Usually, 5cc per day is sufficient. It is a fat-soluble vitamin, so do not overdose!

Avoid excessive consumption of raw, cold, greasy, and spicy foods to prevent damaging Spleen and Stomach function and affecting nutrient absorption.

Summary

Consolidating therapeutic effects also relies on good eye habits: moderate screen time, taking breaks of 10-15 minutes every 45-50 minutes when reading or using digital devices. Daily life should avoid overwork and staying up late, otherwise any treatment and dietary therapy will yield half the result with twice the effort. Minor illnesses are easy to treat; major diseases are hard to cure. Whenever there is the slightest issue with the eyes, seek maintenance from a TCM practitioner immediately. Don't delay, so it doesn't progress to needing laser treatment or surgery.

Although floaters are a local eye symptom, their root cause lies in systemic Zang-Fu deficiency and Qi-Blood disharmony. TCM uses acupuncture to quickly dredge and regulate Qi and Blood, combined with Chinese herbs and dietary therapy to fundamentally tonify deficient organs and regulate dysfunctional systems. Adding the patient's own acupressure and improved eye habits, this multi-pronged approach can indeed significantly improve or even eliminate the bother of "floaters", ensuring clear and bright vision forever.