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Late nights, screens and a glass of wine can all leave eyes looking red and puffy. Here is how traditional Chinese medicine describes those tired eyes, plus some gentle everyday habits.

When your eyes give you away

Few things change how a face looks as quickly as red, tired eyes. After a long day at a screen, a poor night's sleep or a celebration with a few drinks, the whites of the eyes can look pink and the lids heavy. At our Lane Cove clinic, where acupuncture, massage and skin care sit side by side, clients often mention this when they come in to unwind.

A traditional way of reading the eyes

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has its own language for these changes. In TCM theory the liver is said to open into the eyes, and its energy is thought to travel upward to nourish them. When that flow is smooth, the eyes are traditionally described as bright and moist, with good sight in daylight and in the dark.

Heat and a flushed complexion

If the liver becomes unsettled, TCM describes heat rising toward the head. Traditionally this heat is linked with eyes that feel hot, look red or itch, and with a flushed face. Alcohol is regarded in this system as a heating influence, which is how TCM would explain the pink cheeks and bloodshot look the morning after.

Dryness from the inside

Another pattern, called liver blood deficiency, is associated with dryness. Gritty eyes and floaters, those small specks that drift across your view, are read as signs of it. The kidney, said in TCM to keep the body lubricated, may also be considered when eyes, skin and joints all feel dry; this is described as low kidney yin.

That flickering eyelid

Persistent eyelid twitching is described in TCM as Internal Wind, a pattern thought to arise when blood is depleted. Wind is associated with movement such as tics, tremors and itch that wanders.

Simple habits for comfortable eyes

• Look away from your screen regularly and blink fully.
• Keep a steady sleep routine where you can.
• Go easy on alcohol before important days.
• Sip water through the day.

Eyes that are painful, very red, sticky or suddenly blurry should be checked by a GP or optometrist. Some clients enjoy a relaxing acupuncture or facial session as part of their self-care routine, alongside any medical advice they have been given.