Methodology: The researchers employed data mining to discern a new traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription against retinal diseases and explore its medication rule. This was followed by constructing a network of TCMs, core ingredients, core targets, and core pathways using network pharmacology. The binding ability between core active ingredients and core targets was then verified through molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation techniques.

Discussion: The novel TCM prescription screened in this study bears great potential in retinal diseases treatment through a unique mechanism of action. This mechanism involves TCM prescriptions that possess clearing heat and supplementing activities, associated with liver and lung meridians. The mechanism was found to act by modulating several core targets implicated in multiple core pathways such as the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, among others. This potentially inhibits the inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and retinal neovascularization and apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells and retinal pigment epithelial cells. This improves retinal structural impairment and can have a significant impact on the treatment of retinal diseases.