The eyes are the “display screen” for the health of all internal organs. Many people instinctively head to the ophthalmologist when they notice declining vision, dry eyes, light sensitivity, or floaters. They try eye drops, switch to stronger glasses, or even consider surgery. But the problem is, the more they treat it, the more anxious they become — money spent, yet their eyesight seems to worsen year after year.
From a traditional Chinese medicine perspective, this is taking the wrong approach. The eyes are never isolated organs; they serve as the “display screen” for the health of all internal organs. The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine states clearly: The liver opens its orifice to the eyes, the kidneys govern the pupils, the spleen governs the eyelids, and the heart governs the blood vessels.
In other words, what you perceive as “eye disease” is fundamentally the result of insufficient liver blood, deficient kidney essence, impaired spleen function, and stagnant qi and blood. The eyes are merely the first alarm bells to sound. Especially in this era, where staying up late, prolonged screen time, and excessive consumption of cold foods and drinks have transformed the body’s natural nighttime repair process into “continuous nighttime depletion.”
Many people feel fine during the day, but at night, their eyes become dry, gritty, swollen, and sensitive to light. This is no coincidence — it’s a sign of failed nighttime repair. True eye care hinges not on “what to use during the day,” but on what to eat at night. Nighttime is the golden period for genuine eye repair. Traditional Chinese Medicine states, “When a person lies down, blood returns to the liver.” Daytime eye use depletes liver blood; nighttime sleep should allow it to replenish the liver. However, staying up late or consuming improper foods disrupts this repair process, potentially causing further damage.
Therefore, dietary choices made 60–90 minutes before bedtime are critically important. It’s not about randomly eating fruit, but applying the principle of “medicinal foods” to precisely nourish the liver, strengthen the kidneys, invigorate the spleen, and unblock meridians. Below are 7 seemingly ordinary fruits that hold significant weight in traditional Chinese medicine as “nighttime eye-nourishing ingredients.”
Yellow peach
Yello peach soothes the liver and promotes blood circulation, alleviating nighttime glare. Many people experience red, bloodshot eyes or halos around lights at night, which fundamentally stems from stagnation in the liver meridian and poor microcirculation. Yellow peaches are warm-weather varieties and yellow in color. They nourish the spleen while supporting the liver, gently promoting blood flow to the liver.
- Eat 1-2 medium-sized ripe yellow peaches one hour before bed
- Always eat with the skin on; simply scrub lightly with salt
- Avoid eating on an empty stomach or consuming unripe, hard peaches
This helps “clear the small blood vessels around the eyes,” facilitating smoother blood flow back to the heart at night.
Watermelon
Watermelon clears damp-heat from the liver meridian, relieves eye pressure, and swelling. Red eyes, excessive eye discharge, and swelling are often caused by damp-heat rather than deficiency. In traditional Chinese medicine, watermelon is called “natural Bai Hu Tang” (White Tiger Decoction), which clears heat, promotes diuresis, and relieves eye pressure.
- Only eat room-temperature watermelon, never icy
- 30-60 minutes before bedtime, just 1 small bowl
- Must eat the white flesh layer closest to the rind
- Do not add salt
This helps the body expel “heat that rises to the eyes at night” through urination.
Blackberries
Blackberries nourish kidney essence, improve night vision, and reduce floaters. Night blindness, floaters, and poor vision in dim light often stem from insufficient kidney essence. Blackberries, dark in color and kidney-tonifying, are rich in anthocyanins — the “lamp oil” for the retina.
- Consume half a cup before bed
- Room temperature, fresh or thawed
- Pair with a small amount of soy milk or almond milk to enhance absorption
This repairs photoreceptor cells and replenishes “lamp oil” without strong stimulation.
Blueberries
Blueberries consolidate liver qi and clear liver toxins. Overuse of the eyes or prolonged screen time disperses liver qi. Blueberries’ sour taste enters the liver, helping to “collect the spirit and consolidate the eyes.”
- Never heat
- Do not cook into porridge or make into paste
Eat whole (with skin), chewing thoroughly. This helps the liver “recollect scattered energy,” refocusing the eyes.
Goji berries (Wolfberries)
Goji berries nourish the liver and kidneys, protect the macula. Goji berries provide sustained nourishment rather than intense supplementation. Their true value lies in protecting the macular region.
- Soak in warm water (temperature below 50°C) for 10 minutes
- Drink the water, but chew the goji berries thoroughly
- Pair with a small piece of dark chocolate (85 percent cocoa or higher) to aid absorption
This provides gradual nourishment rather than immediate results, but its effects are sustained and potent.
Mulberries
Mulberries nourish yin and blood, alleviating dryness and stinging pain. Dry eyes feeling gritty often stem from insufficient yin blood. Mulberries target the liver and kidneys, replenishing “blood and body fluids.”
- Those with a cold spleen/stomach should consume sparingly
- Pair with a small amount of longan flesh to counteract the cold properties
Papaya
Papaya strengthens the spleen, transforms phlegm, and prevents cataracts. Traditional Chinese Medicine views cataracts as often linked to phlegm-dampness clouding the orifices. Papaya fortifies the spleen and aids digestion, reducing cloudiness at its source.
- One small bowl 1 hour before bedtime
- At room temperature
- Add 1-2 drops of lemon juice to activate enzymes
Summary
Whether your eyes age isn’t determined by your age, but by whether you give your body a chance to repair itself. True eye care isn’t about fighting your body — it’s about aligning with its rhythms. Eating right at night trumps haphazard daytime supplements. You’re not “treating your eyes”; you’re rebuilding your body’s internal environment. When liver blood is replenished, kidney essence restored, and spleen-stomach function optimized, your eyes will naturally shine. This isn’t magic — it’s your body’s inherent capacity.
Translated by Audrey Wang and edited by Amanda
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