bubble_chart Concept

Eyeball self-distension refers to the symptom of feeling the eyeball distending on its own, and in severe cases, even the supraorbital ridge feels sore and distended.

This symptom is seen in Zhengzhi Zhunsheng, referred to as "self-distension of the divine pearl." There are also conditions like "fixed protrusion of the eyes" in the early stages and "eyeball distending pain," which are similar to this symptom, but their disease causes and mechanisms of disease are different, and attention should be paid to distinguish them.

bubble_chart Pattern Analysis

1. External Contraction Wind-heat︰The eyeball feels distended on its own, which may even extend to pain or aching pain in the supraorbital ridge. The eyelids lack strength and cannot endure prolonged viewing. The tongue is red with yellow coating, and the pulse is rapid. The foot taiyang channel originates from the inner canthus and forms the meridian/channel sinew mesh above the eyes. The foot Yangming channel intersects with the Jingming point of the foot taiyang channel, forming the lower mesh of the eyes. Wind evil combined with heat ascends along the taiyang and Yangming channels to the eyes. Hence, the eyeball feels distended, extending to the supraorbital ridge, and in severe cases, the eyelids feel heavy, often wanting to droop and close, unable to endure prolonged viewing, which results in soreness and pain. The treatment should focus on dispersing wind and clearing heat, using the Xiongju Shangqing Wan formula.
2. Liver Qi Depression︰The eyeball feels distended and uncomfortable without obvious pain or redness; eye discharge, tears; chest tightness, hypochondriac pain, bitter taste in the mouth, dry throat, red tongue with thin coating, wiry-thin or rapid pulse. The foot Jueyin meridian connects to the eye connector. Liver depression fails to reach, and the Jueyin meridian qi loses its free flow, accumulating internal heat, hence the eyeball feels distended, with chest tightness, hypochondriac pain, bitter taste in the mouth, and dry throat. Treatment should focus on soothing the liver and relieving depression, assisted by cooling the liver and clearing heat, using the modified Peripatetic Powder.
3. Deficiency of Both Qi and Blood︰The eyeballs often feel distended and uncomfortable, especially during physical overstrain or before menstruation in women, without redness, dryness, eye discharge, or tearing. The complexion is shallow yellow, lips and nails are pale, accompanied by palpitations, insomnia, shortness of breath, and spontaneous sweating. The tongue texture is pale, and the pulse is thin and weak. The heart governs blood, and the spleen is the source of generation and transformation. Deficiency of both the heart and spleen leads to insufficient qi and blood, which fail to nourish the eyes, resulting in eye distension and discomfort. Symptoms often worsen during overstrain or before menstruation in women. Associated symptoms include a shallow yellow complexion, pale lips and nails, palpitations, and insomnia. However, when qi and blood are deficient, nutrient circulation becomes sluggish, the liver lacks nourishment, and the meridians lose smoothness. Treatment should focus on tonifying qi, nourishing blood, regulating the liver, and promoting qi flow. The recommended formula is Modified Bupleurum Ginseng and Atractylodes Macrocephala Decoction.

This condition does not present any special signs in the local area of the eye, but the eyeball feels swollen and uncomfortable. The onset usually occurs after a common cold, mostly due to wind evil carrying heat, lingering in the taiyang and yangming meridians, with the upper and lower networks of the eyes being invaded by pathogenic qi. If it is caused by internal damage from the seven emotions, it is due to liver depression and qi stagnation, with the jueyin meridian qi failing to disperse, leading to disharmony in the eye collaterals. As for those with a constitution that is inherently weak, it is generally due to deficiencies in both the heart and spleen, with insufficient qi and blood failing to nourish the eye orifices. Clinically, it is necessary to differentiate the disease cause and treat according to the syndrome.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Zhengzhi Zhunsheng．The Seven Orifices: "The symptom of self-swelling of the divine pearl: the eyeball swells, with differences in internal and external severity. If mild, one feels an uncomfortable tightness inside the eye, which is easy to treat and subside... If severe, it turns red, painful, and swollen, with the risk of blockage in critical cases. Severe pain and tightness, with the eyeball feeling raised, may lead to the disaster of a hawk's eye."