This article is adapted from the clinical insights of Dr. Yu-Yen Lin (TCM Ophthalmology). It is for educational purposes only and does not replace in-person evaluation or treatment by qualified medical professionals.
What Are Eye Floaters?
Eye floaters, known in Western medicine as small dark or shadowy shapes drifting across one’s field of vision, are often linked to aging or changes in the vitreous body of the eye.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) we call this condition “Yun Wu Yi Jing” (雲霧移睛). However, floaters are seen as more than a local eye problem—they are a sign of internal imbalance, often involving the Liver, Kidney, and Blood circulation systems.
When the body’s energy (Qi) and Blood become stagnant, or when the Liver and Kidney Yin are deficient, the eye loses nourishment, leading to clouded or shadowed vision.
Thus, the key to treatment lies in restoring harmony within the body rather than merely addressing the symptom in the eye.
