For modern people, dry eye syndrome and eye fatigue are no longer unfamiliar symptoms. Digital eye strain, arising from the increased use of digital devices like smartphones, computers, and tablets, has now emerged as a global public health issue. Just as Donguibogam considered the liver and kidney the core of eye health, modern medicine also understands the eyes not merely as external organs, but as complex organs deeply connected to the neurological and endocrine systems of our entire body.
The statement in Donguibogam that the liver stores blood and nourishes the eyes aligns considerably with the role of the autonomic nervous system in modern neurology. When our autonomic nervous system balance breaks down from severe stress or sleep deprivation, sympathetic nerves are particularly prone to hyperactivation. This directly impacts lacrimal gland function, which can decrease tear secretion and worsen dry eyes. In addition, excessive elevation of sympathetic nerves causes vasoconstriction, reducing blood flow around the eyes; this heightens fatigue in the eye muscles, triggering hyperemia and grittiness. Just as Donguibogam viewed that heat in the liver affects the eyes, modern neuroscience points to vasoconstriction and inflammatory responses caused by the stress response as the underlying causes.
Viewing kidney qi as the essence of the eyes can be interpreted through the endocrine system and cellular regenerative capacity. The kidney is intimately related to corticosteroid secretion, which participates in the body's overall stress response and inflammation regulation. If kidney function weakens due to chronic stress or overwork, our body faces difficulty maintaining homeostasis, which can lead to microvascular injury or nerve cell hypofunction in the eyes. In particular, it affects the secretion of proteins and lipids, the building blocks of the tear film, degrading tear quality and impairing the regenerative ability of corneal and conjunctival cells, thereby causing ocular surface damage and inflammation.
In conclusion, excessive use of digital devices reduces blink rates, causing dry eye syndrome and creating excessive strain in eye muscles, which adds to accommodative asthenopia. When chronic stress and sleep deprivation are added to this, eye fatigue and dryness inevitably intensify through autonomic nervous system imbalance and endocrine system disruption. Beyond simply applying eye drops or taking brief breaks, restoring balance to our entire body is the true solution for genuine eye health.
