中醫眼科學：理論的極限

Traditional Chinese Ophthalmology: The Limits of Theory

中國傳統醫學將眼睛之生理功能與疾患以陰陽五行的系統概念加以論述之。依據陰陽五行學說，眼睛之功能及疾病與臟腑盛衰息息相關。因此，古代醫學文獻提的眼疾醫療法大多是針對臟而言，尤其在「肝」方面，乃以治本之原則施治之。但值得注意的古代眼科文獻中曾明白記載，某些外來因素對眼睛的直接影響並未經由五臟；另外在治療方面，還提及許多可直接外敷於眼睛之劑型。不過僅管如此，卻未曾有任何文獻試圖將外來直接影響眼睛的因素與直接外敷療法套入陰陽五行的概念系統模式裡。今則論述於下。

Traditional Chinese medicine discusses the physiological functions and pathological states of the eye in terms of the doctrines of yin-yang and the five phases. According to these doctrines, the functions and diseases of the eye are intimately related to the strength of the internal organs (zang fu). Consequently, treatments given in ancient literature are mostly directed at the internal organs, especially the liver. However, it is notweorthy that literature mentions many external factors that can directly affect the health of eyes without exerting their influence through the organs, and suggests numerous medicinal prepartions to be applied to the eye directly. Despite this, nowhere in traditional literature is any attempt made to explain external factors influencing the eyes directly and topical preparations in terms of the yin-yang and five-phase systems of correspondence.