This disease is a kind of syndrome characterized by the increase in intraocular pressure. It can be classified into three main types: primary, secondary and congenital. This section only deals with the acute congestive glaucoma (angleclousure glaucoma) of the primary type. Clinically, it is characterized by acute increase in intraocular pressure, mixed congestion of the eyeball, corneal edema, mydriasis, greenish-blue pupil margin, accompanied with severe swelling of the eye, headache, nausea and so on. It belongs to the category of "liufeng neizhang" (green glacucoma) in TCM. When it comes into the absolute stage, it belong to the category of "huangfeng neizhang" (absolute glaucoma with cataract) in TCM.  

Main Points of Diagnosis

1. It is manifested as acute swelling of the eye, headache, nausea, diminution of vision and so on.

2. There is mixed congestion of the eye, corneal edema with misty opacity, opacity of aqueous humor. The anterior chamber becomes shallow. The pupil becomes enlarged and loses its normal circular contour, with the presence of green-blue reflection of light inside the pupil.

3. The eyeball becomes as hard as stone. The intraocular pressure usually comes up to more than 6 KPa, even exceeding 10 KPa.

4. If the persistent increase of the intraocular pressure fails to come down, later on complete blindness results. If the dilated pupil fails to constrict, if iris becomes discolored and the crystalline lens becomes yellow or yellowish-white in color, then it turns to the absolute glaucoma.  

Differentiation and Treatment of Common Syndromes     

1. Internal Treatment

1) The Type of Upward Attack of Wind-Phlegm

Main Symptoms and Signs: The eye becomes distended as if it were to be broken up. The head aches badly as if it were splitting. Other likely features are nausea, vomiting, mixed congestion of the eyeball, misty corneal edema, the pupil getting dilated with green colour and the eye becoming as hard as stone.

Therapeutic Principle: Removing heat from the blood and calming pathogenic wind, resolving phlegm and improving vision.

Recipe: Decoction of Imperata Rhizome and Bamboo Juice

imperata rhizome

bamboo juice (divided into two equal quantities, with one portion added to the decoction each time)

white peony root

scutellaria root

giant typhonium tuber

curcuma root

coptis root

phellodendron bark

wine-treated rhubarb

batryticated silkworm

powder of buffalo's horn (to be taken after being infused in boiling water)

All the above ingredients except bamboo juice and powder of buffalo's horn are to be decocted in water for oral administration.

2. The Type of Lung-Deficiency and Liver-Asthenia

Main Symptoms and Signs: distention of the eye and headache appear and become worse in the afternoon and in the evening. There occurs slightly mixed congestion of the eyeball, with the color light but dark. There appear milder corneal edema, mydriasis. The pupil margin looks greenish-blue in color. Intraocular pressure rises to about 6 KPa and severe diminution of vision results.

Therapeutic Principle: Tonifying the lung and calming the liver.

Recipe: Modified Prescription of Mother Nourishing Powder.

ophiopogon root

asparagus root

red tangerine peel

poria

prepared pinellia tuber

sweet wormwood

trichosanthes root

licorice root,

wine-treated flavescent sophora root

gentian root

areca seed

dragon's bone

oyster shell

All the above ingredients are to be decocted in water for oral administration.

Thank you so much for visiting our website!  


1. Since the clinical cases are always more complex than theories, so for an accurate syndrome identification and effective treatment to you, please let us evaluate your personnel conditions by filling out Patient Form.

2.Check Our Online Shop for hundreds of the best herbal products manufactured in China for various chronic diseases. Find herbal product for glaucoma treatment at this page.