Understanding Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
Age-related macular degeneration is a progressive condition affecting the macula — the small, central area of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision. It is one of the leading causes of vision loss in adults over 50 in the United States. AMD does not cause total blindness, but it can significantly impair the central vision needed for reading, recognizing faces, driving, and other daily activities that depend on fine detail.
There are two primary forms. Dry AMD is the most common, involving the gradual breakdown of light-sensitive cells in the macula and the accumulation of small deposits called drusen beneath the retina. Wet AMD is less common but progresses more rapidly; it involves the growth of abnormal blood vessels beneath the retina that can leak fluid and cause sudden, severe changes in central vision. Many people with wet AMD are familiar with anti-VEGF injections such as VABYSMO or Eylea as part of their conventional treatment protocol.
Risk factors include age, smoking history, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, obesity, and a family history of AMD. Nutritional deficiencies — particularly in antioxidants and carotenoids — are also recognized contributors. Patients are often told to manage what they can through diet and lifestyle while monitoring closely with their ophthalmologist.
What Chinese Medicine Understands About Vision and the Eye
In Chinese medicine, the eyes are governed primarily by the Liver. This is not metaphor — it reflects a well-developed clinical system in which the Liver stores blood, and blood nourishes the sensory organ of the eye. When Liver blood is insufficient, vision becomes dim, dry, or strained. When Kidney essence is also depleted — as is common with age — the deeper reservoir that supports both Liver and eye function becomes insufficient.
Age-related macular degeneration, viewed through this lens, typically reflects a pattern of Liver and Kidney deficiency, often accompanied by dryness, diminished essence, and in some cases an element of rising deficiency heat or stagnation at the level of the retinal vessels. This is consistent with what classical Chinese medicine calls yin deficiency: the fluids and nutrients that should be moistening and nourishing the tissues are depleted, leaving the structures of the eye starved for what they need.
There is also a recognized chain between fluid deficiency, Wood (Liver), and Fire (Heart and vessels). When Liver yin and blood are insufficient over time, the Wood fails to stay rooted, and upward-flaring heat or vascular irregularity can follow — a pattern that resonates with what clinicians see in the abnormal neovascularization of wet AMD. Chinese medicine’s approach is to treat the root of this pattern, not just suppress its surface manifestations.
How Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine Support Eye Health
At Makari Wellness, integrative care for AMD draws on several complementary clinical frameworks — all aimed at addressing the underlying pattern of deficiency while supporting circulation and tissue nourishment in and around the eye.
Acupuncture for the Eyes
Multiple acupuncture systems offer specific protocols for retinal and macular conditions. Master Tung’s acupuncture includes a set of microsystem points on the hand and foot with strong clinical reputation for eye disorders — these are selected based on the patient’s specific presentation, not applied uniformly. The Kiiko Matsumoto approach addresses systemic reflex patterns that can impair local circulation to the head and eyes, including patterns related to the cervical spine, kidney function, and blood viscosity. Scalp acupuncture over the occipital vision zone offers another avenue for neurologically-informed support of the visual system.
Electro-acupuncture is sometimes incorporated to enhance local circulation around the orbital region, and periorbital needling — performed only by trained practitioners — can be used to directly address qi and blood stagnation in the channels surrounding the eye.
Classical Herbal Formulas
The classical herbal repertoire for Liver-Kidney deficiency affecting vision is substantial. Formulas in the Di Huang Wan family — most notably Qi Ju Di Huang Wan — have been used for centuries to nourish Liver and Kidney yin, clear deficiency heat, and brighten the eyes. They are not applied as a generic supplement but are tailored to the individual patient’s constitutional presentation and current pattern.
In more complex presentations — particularly where systemic vascular irregularities, inflammatory tendencies, or metabolic disease is concurrent with AMD — classical formulas from the Shang Han Lun and Jing Gui Yao Lue traditions may be layered in to address those complicating patterns. An herbalist trained in classical Chinese medicine will identify the full constellation of the patient’s presentation before selecting or modifying a formula.
Nutritional and Lifestyle Guidance
Chinese dietary medicine reinforces what Western research also supports: foods rich in lutein, zeaxanthin, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidant pigments support macular health. From a Chinese medicine standpoint, dark leafy greens, berries, liver (the food), and seeds are all considered nourishing to Liver blood and Kidney essence. Practitioners may also address sleep, stress, and eye-strain habits — all of which influence the Liver’s ability to rest, replenish its blood, and support clear vision.
What to Expect at Makari Wellness in Oceanside and San Diego
Your first visit at Makari begins with a thorough intake — not just of your eye history, but of your whole health picture. AMD does not exist in isolation; it is part of an aging physiology that often involves cardiovascular patterns, hormonal changes, sleep quality, and digestive function. Understanding the full pattern is what allows Chinese medicine to work at a root level rather than simply addressing symptoms.
After your intake, your practitioner will perform a pulse and tongue evaluation alongside any relevant orthopedic or neurological assessments. From this, a working TCM diagnosis will be established, and a treatment plan will be designed — typically combining acupuncture with herbal medicine and any relevant lifestyle recommendations. For AMD specifically, a course of weekly or twice-weekly acupuncture sessions is typical for the initial phase of care, with herbal formulas taken daily at home.
We work alongside your ophthalmologist, not instead of them. If you are receiving anti-VEGF injections, following a conventional monitoring protocol, or managing concurrent systemic conditions, we will coordinate your care to complement that treatment. Our clinical notes can be shared with your retinal specialist if desired.
- Initial intake and pattern assessment: 60–75 minutes
- Follow-up acupuncture sessions: 45–60 minutes
- Herbal consultations reviewed and updated as the pattern shifts
- Care coordinated with existing conventional providers
- No claim of cure is made; our aim is to support your body’s capacity for resilience and nourishment of the visual system
An Integrative Perspective on a Complex Condition
AMD is a condition that Western medicine manages but has limited ability to reverse — particularly in its dry form. Chinese medicine does not promise what it cannot deliver, but it does offer something meaningful: a framework for treating the whole person, nourishing the body’s own restorative processes, and supporting vascular and tissue health from the inside out. Patients who integrate acupuncture and classical herbal care into their AMD management often report improvements in other areas of health simultaneously — better sleep, reduced systemic inflammation, improved energy — because the same root patterns that affect the eye are being addressed systemically.
If you or a loved one is navigating an AMD diagnosis and want to explore what integrative Chinese medicine may offer as a complement to conventional care, we invite you to schedule a consultation with our team at Makari Wellness. Our practitioners in Oceanside and San Diego are trained in classical herbal medicine, acupuncture, and integrative clinical assessment, and are ready to meet you where you are in your care journey.