Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) offers a natural, noninvasive solution for improving eye health. Practices such as eye exercises, acupuncture, and cervical spine adjustments show promising results in reversing cataracts and stabilizing glaucoma—often without the need for surgery. These ancient techniques, backed by real-life success stories, offer valuable insights into maintaining and enhancing vision in today’s world.
Leading Causes of Vision Loss
Cataracts and glaucoma have long been recognized as two leading causes of blindness. With advancements in medical technology, cataract patients can now restore their vision through intraocular lens replacement surgery. As a result, cataracts are no longer considered a major cause of permanent vision loss.Glaucoma, on the other hand, remains more difficult to manage. Because of its gradual progression and the slow deterioration of the optic nerve, there is currently no definitive cure. Medical treatments are available, but they can only help slow the disease’s advancement.
Is Cataract Reversal Possible?
Case Study 1: Vision Restored After 6 Months of Eye Care Exercises
A woman in her 50s experienced severe vision loss in her right eye because of cataracts—her vision was nearly completely impaired, which she described as seeing through a thick white haze.She began performing daily eye care exercises with consistency and dedication. After about three months, the cataract in her right eye had reportedly cleared entirely. The outcome surprised even her local ophthalmologist.
From the perspective of conventional medicine, such a reversal is considered highly unlikely. However, this case suggests that, with appropriate methods and sustained effort, some degree of vision improvement may be possible.
Case Study 2: Cataract Surgery Avoided Through Daily Eye Massage
A woman diagnosed with cataracts was scheduled for surgery two weeks later. Apprehensive about undergoing the procedure, she began looking into alternative approaches and discovered an earlier version of my eye care exercise routine.She committed to performing one hour of eye massage and related exercises each morning. Whenever possible, she incorporated extra eye exercises into her daily routine. At her follow-up two weeks later, the doctor was surprised to find that the cataract had cleared, making surgery unnecessary.
However, after discontinuing the routine for a period of time, the cataract reappeared. She then resumed the exercises, and two weeks later, a re-examination showed that the cataract had once again disappeared.
This case underscores the importance of consistent eye care exercises in supporting vision health.
Treating Eye Conditions With Traditional Eye Exercises
The following set of eye exercises originates from the Ming Dynasty medical text “Categorized Synopsis of Health Care” (“Yang Sheng Lei Yao”). The text offers a detailed explanation of the causes of eye diseases and outlines methods for treating conditions such as cataracts.According to the text, there are four primary causes of eye disorders:
- Excessive External Heat: Depletes the body’s vital energy and fluids, leading to inflammation of the eyes
- Deficient Qi (Vital Energy): Fails to rise and circulate properly to the head
- Impaired Liver Function
- Weakened Kidney Function
The prescribed method for clearing eye opacity is described as follows:
Each morning upon waking, sit in a meditative posture to calm the mind. With the mouth and eyes closed, slowly rotate the eyeballs 14 times clockwise, then 14 times counterclockwise. Next, tightly close the eyes, hold for a moment, then quickly open them wide.
According to the text, performing these exercises regularly may support the natural healing of eye disorders.
Additionally, the text advises avoiding excessive sexual activity, which is believed to weaken the kidneys and deplete essential energy. It also recommends frequent writing or reading of fine print, as concentrating on small characters is thought to stimulate and activate the optic nerve.
The Eye-Organ Connection in TCM
Another key component of TCM-based eye care involves stimulating pressure points around the eye socket. According to TCM, eye disorders are not isolated to the eyes, but are closely related to the function of the internal organs—referred to as the five zang and six fu.The term “five zang and six fu” refers not just to anatomical organs, but to functional systems that regulate the body’s physiological and energetic balance.
TCM draws on the ancient Chinese philosophical framework of the Bagua, or Eight Trigrams—a symbolic system used to explain patterns of change and balance in nature. In TCM theory, each of the eight trigrams corresponds to specific organs and energies within the body.
The Bagua Trigrams around the eyes. The Epoch Times
The area around the eyes is viewed as a miniature representation of the Bagua, with various points around the eye socket corresponding to different internal organs. Therefore, stimulating these points through targeted acupressure can help regulate the body’s internal energy flow, supporting balance and promoting organ health.
Consistency Is Key
In today’s digital age, people spend long hours on smartphones and computers, often looking at screens for long periods without breaks. Prolonged screen time reduces both eye movement and blinking, which can lead to dryness and stiffness in the muscles that control eye movement, ultimately contributing to gradual vision decline.Therefore, it is important to include regular eye movement in your daily routine. The high number of repetitions in the above eye exercise routine is intentional, designed to improve eye muscle flexibility and stimulate circulation. To achieve noticeable results, the exercises must be practiced consistently over time.
Types of Glaucoma
For patients with glaucoma, eye exercises may help stabilize intraocular pressure and support visual function.Glaucoma is generally classified into two types:
- High-Pressure Glaucoma: This form occurs when the eye’s aqueous humor does not drain properly, causing increased intraocular pressure that compresses the optic nerve. In severe cases, vision loss may occur within a month.
- Normal-Pressure (or Low-Pressure) Glaucoma: In this form of glaucoma, the optic nerve gradually deteriorates even though intraocular pressure remains within the normal range. Patients may lose part of their vision without experiencing any noticeable symptoms.
Case Study 1: Vision Improvement in a Normal-Pressure Glaucoma Patient
A 46-year-old woman was diagnosed with chronic glaucoma after experiencing a gradual narrowing of her visual field. Given the extent of her vision loss, she was issued a disability certificate.She later began a regimen of TCM, which included acupuncture, eye care exercises, and neck exercises targeting the cervical spine. Specifically, she practiced eye exercises three times a day and received acupuncture once a week.
After six and a half months, her visual field had significantly expanded, and visual acuity in both eyes had improved by 20 percent.
From the perspective of conventional medicine, optic nerve damage is typically considered irreversible. This case, however, highlights the potential value of appropriate and consistent eye care in supporting visual health.
Case Study 2: Stabilized Intraocular Pressure in a High-Pressure Glaucoma Patient
A patient had been managing elevated intraocular pressure with long-term use of medicated eye drops. However, despite ongoing treatment, he continued to experience redness, swelling, and general eye discomfort.Following a similar approach to other patients, he began incorporating the eye exercises and cervical spine care into his daily routine. As a result, his intraocular pressure stabilized, and his vision began to improve. As his condition continued to progress, he was able to gradually reduce his reliance on eye drops, easing his dependence on medication.
The Role of Daily Practice in Supporting Eye Health
Many patients have found that practicing eye exercises and cervical spine care can help stabilize intraocular pressure and gradually improve vision.While outcomes vary from person to person, for patients managing cataracts or glaucoma, dedicating at least one hour a day to eye care exercises and cervical spine exercises may be beneficial in slowing disease progression—and in some cases, even improve visual function.
Managing Screen Time for Better Eye Health
Alongside regular eye exercises, taking a 10-minute break after every 50 minutes of screen use is recommended to reduce eye strain.Many cataract patients have reported noticeable improvements in vision through consistent eye exercises. However, excessive smartphone use—even over the course of a few days—can quickly result in blurred vision.
The harmful effects of smartphones on the eyes stem primarily from blue light exposure, along with other forms of radiation that may damage ocular cells. For this reason, limiting screen time remains a key principle in protecting eye health.
For those who regularly read digital content, ePaper (electronic paper) displays offer a safer alternative by reducing exposure to blue light and radiation.
A 2021 prospective randomized controlled study found that, compared with organic light-emitting diode screens commonly used in smartphones, electronic ink displays—which closely mimic the appearance of paper—were more effective in protecting the eyes and reducing symptoms such as dryness, redness, and visual fatigue.
The advantages of using ePaper displays include:
- Reduced Blue Light Exposure: Unlike traditional LCD screens, ePaper displays do not emit harmful blue light, helping to minimize eye strain and potential retinal damage.
- No Screen Flicker: ePaper technology eliminates flickering, significantly reducing eye discomfort and fatigue during prolonged reading or device use.
- Paper-Like Reading Experience: The display closely resembles printed paper, offering a more natural and comfortable way to read.
- Low Power Consumption: ePaper uses power only when refreshing the screen, which makes it highly energy-efficient and helps extend battery life.
- Excellent Outdoor Visibility: ePaper remains easy to read even in direct sunlight, free from glare and readability issues—making it well-suited for outdoor use.
Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Epoch Health welcomes professional discussion and friendly debate. To submit an opinion piece, please follow these guidelines and submit through our form here.
