The Proposal of the Biological Axis of "Liver-Eye" Inspired by the TCM Theory of "Liver Opens at the Eyes" and Its Modern Medical Biological Evidences

"Liver opens at the eyes" is an important cognition of the viscera and bowels theory of traditional Chinese medicine, which holds that "The eye is clear based on the visceral and bowel essence flowing upwards into the eyes". In clinical practice, it has continuously improved and formed the TCM syndrome differentiation, diagnosis, treatment system and theoretical basis of "liver disease leads to ophthalmopathy" as well as "ophthalmopathy leads to liver disease". With the development of modern medical biology, more and more evidences show that there is a very complex and close relationship between the liver and the eye in physiology and pathology. We recognize the profound philosophical thought reflected in the traditional Chinese medicine theory "Liver opens at the eyes" and it is proved that the biological relationship between the liver and the eye is close and objective. Therefore, the proposal of the biological axis of "liver-eye" not only benefits from the enlightenment of the viscera and bowel theory of traditional Chinese medicine, but also has a profound theoretical foundation of traditional Chinese medicine. It is also an objective judgment of more and more evidence that there are common pathways as well as targets and complex and close biological relationships between human organs and eye diseases. There is reason to believe that the proposal and continuous enrichment and improvement of the theory of "liver-eye" axis will make proper contributions to the improvement of basic research, clinical diagnosis and treatment of ophthalmology.