Intraocular flesh growth refers to the condition where a lump of flesh rises within the eyelid, gradually enlarging and potentially covering the entire eye. If it occurs within the canthus of the eyelid and takes the shape of a crest-like or clam-form blepharal neoplasm, it is referred to as "crest-like or clam-form blepharal neoplasm."

This condition, Zhubing Yuanhou Lun calls it "the symptom of excessive flesh growth on the eyelid"; Shiyi Dexiao Fang refers to it as "crest-like or clam-form blepharal neoplasm"; and "Shi Shi Mi Lu" describes it as "flesh growing in the eye." Additionally, there are other names for this condition such as "eye flesh thread," "Xi Kui Xian flesh," and "eye evil."

Although "pterygium" and this condition both involve flesh growth within the eyelid, the former originates from the canthus, resembling an insect's wing, crossing the white of the eye and gradually invading the black of the eye. It is mostly caused by excessive wind-heat in the heart and lung meridians, leading to qi stagnation and blood stasis. This differs from the current condition in terms of disease cause and symptoms, hence it is described separately in another article.

bubble_chart Pattern Analysis

1. Exuberant Wind-Heat︰The main clinical manifestations are: within the eyelid, a raised mass of stagnant flesh gradually grows, appearing red like a rooster's crest or resembling clam meat, and in severe cases, it may cover the entire eye. There may also be distending pain in the head and eyes, chills with fever, a red tongue with thin white coating, and a wiry-rapid or floating-rapid pulse. This condition is primarily caused by accumulated heat in the spleen and stomach, and upward rushing of liver wind. Yizong Jinjian. Yanke Xinfa Yaojue: "The symptom of crest-like or clam-form blepharal neoplasm... This is due to accumulated heat in the spleen and stomach and upward rushing of liver wind." When wind-heat binds in the eyelid, leading to stagnation of qi and blood stasis, flesh grows within the eyelid. Due to excess heat, the stagnant flesh appears red like a rooster's crest or clam meat. If accompanied by upward rushing of liver wind, there will be distending pain in the head and eyes, and a wiry-rapid or floating-rapid pulse. Treatment should first involve manual hooking and cutting, followed by taking heat-clearing and wind-dispelling formulas, such as Choufeng Tang.
2. Yin Deficiency︰It manifests as pale and thin fleshy growths inside the eyelids, developing slowly, with red blood vessels appearing and disappearing intermittently, accompanied by slight dryness and itching, feverish sensations in the chest, palms, and soles, tidal fever, night sweats, a red tongue, and a thready, rapid pulse. It is often caused by physical exhaustion and deficiency, insufficient kidney yin, water failing to control fire, and deficient fire flaring upward. When water is deficient below and fire flares above, it becomes rootless fire, known as deficiency fire. Deficiency fire disturbs qi and blood stasis, leading to thin, pale fleshy growths that develop slowly. The rise and fall of healthy qi and pathogens fluctuate with the yin-yang of heaven and earth. When the timing aligns and healthy qi recovers while pathogens decline, the condition may improve; when seasonal pathogens are strong and healthy qi is weak, the condition may worsen, hence the intermittent appearance and disappearance of red blood vessels. Yin deficiency presents symptoms such as vexing heat in the chest, palms, and soles, tidal fever, night sweats, a red tongue, and a thready, rapid pulse. Treatment should focus on nourishing yin and reducing fire, with the prescription Zhi Bai Rehmannia Decoction.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Zhubing Yuanhou Lun．Eye Diseases of the Nobles: "Eye polyp and excessive skin condition. The condition of polyp and excessive skin is caused by pathogenic heat in the viscera, which rushes to the eyes. The heat affects the blood vessels, accumulates without dispersing, and forms polyps between the white of the eye and the eyelid, which is called polyp and excessive skin."
2. Yinhai Jingwei．Crest-like or Clam-form Blepharal Neoplasm: "What is the cause of the growth of virtual flesh inside the eye, resembling a crest-like or clam-form blepharal neoplasm? It is due to the spleen and stomach being affected by wind-heat, and the excessive fire causing dryness-heat in the spleen and earth. For treatment, young individuals should only purge the spleen and stomach's own viscera. If the spleen and stomach are weak and cannot tolerate cold and cool substances, the method of purging the child and the mother should be used. To purge the viscera, use Sanhuang Decoction with cold and cool agents. To purge the child, use Lung-Draining Decoction. To purge the mother, use Eight-Ingredient Rectification Powder, Heart-Draining Decoction as the main treatment."