Understanding Retinal Occlusion and the Role of Chinese Medicine
Retinal occlusion occurs when a blood vessel supplying the retina becomes blocked, interrupting normal blood flow and oxygen delivery to this light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. The condition can take two primary forms — branch retinal vein occlusion, affecting a smaller vessel, or central retinal vein occlusion, involving the main drainage vein of the retina. Both can lead to sudden changes in vision, blurring, floaters, or in more serious cases, significant vision loss. Conventional medicine addresses retinal occlusion with injections, laser therapy, or observation, but many patients seek additional support to address the underlying conditions that contributed to the blockage and to support recovery over time.
At Makari Wellness, serving patients throughout Oceanside and San Diego, we approach retinal occlusion not as an isolated event in the eye, but as a sign of deeper imbalance — one that acupuncture and classical Chinese herbal medicine are uniquely equipped to address from the root.
How Chinese Medicine Understands Retinal Occlusion
In Chinese medicine, the eyes are governed primarily by the Liver system. The classical texts teach that the Liver opens into the eyes — meaning Liver blood nourishes retinal tissue, and Liver qi keeps the vessels of the eye supple and flowing freely. When the Liver is stressed, whether by chronic inflammation, metabolic strain, emotional tension, or years of accumulated stasis, its ability to nourish and regulate circulation to the eye can become compromised.
Retinal occlusion, viewed through this lens, most commonly reflects one or more of the following patterns:
- Blood stasis obstructing the vessels of the eye — the single most common pattern; vessels lose their free flow, blood pools, and hemorrhage can result
- Liver and Kidney yin deficiency — chronic fluid insufficiency dries the vessels, making them prone to stagnation; this pattern is especially common in middle-aged and older patients
- Liver qi stagnation transforming to heat or fire — emotional stress or constitutional heat drives inflammation into the network vessels of the eye
- Phlegm obstruction with underlying stasis — more commonly seen in patients with elevated lipids, blood pressure, or metabolic syndrome
Distinguishing which pattern or combination of patterns is driving a patient’s presentation is the core of Chinese medical diagnosis. Your practitioner at Makari Wellness will assess your pulse quality, tongue appearance, constitutional symptoms, and health history to determine the most appropriate approach for your specific case.
Classical Herbal Formulas and Retinal Hemorrhage
One of the strengths of the classical herbal tradition is its detailed clinical record — centuries of physicians documenting which formulas helped which presentations. Among the formulas addressing blood stasis and retinal or fundus hemorrhage, Tao He Cheng Qi Tang (Peach Kernel Qi-Guiding Decoction) holds a prominent place. First recorded in Zhang Zhongjing’s Treatise on Cold Damage and later systematized by Huang Huang among others, this formula combines blood-moving herbs like persica seed and prepared rhubarb with cinnamon twig to warm and open circulation. Its classical and modern indications include fundus hemorrhage and conjunctival hemorrhage — conditions that share the underlying mechanism of blood escaping or stagnating in the small vessels of the eye.
This formula is typically indicated for patients with a more robust constitution: a flushed or glossy complexion, a tendency toward constipation, tension in the abdomen, and a forceful pulse. It is not a universal prescription, which is precisely why proper pattern identification matters. A patient with yin deficiency and empty heat driving retinal stasis requires a very different approach than one with phlegm-fire or cold-induced stagnation.
For presentations involving yin deficiency — where the fluid that nourishes Liver and Kidney has become chronically depleted — formulas from the supplementing tradition are more appropriate. The tissue correspondence framework in Chinese medicine describes how fluid deficiency dries the Wood element over time, leading to heightened Fire in the Heart vessels; from this single root, multiple manifestations can appear, including hypertension, cardiac irregularities, and vascular changes in the retina. Addressing this chain at its source, rather than treating each downstream symptom in isolation, is a foundational principle of how we work at Makari Wellness.
Acupuncture for Eye Health and Vascular Support
Acupuncture offers another avenue of support for patients with retinal occlusion. Fine needles placed at carefully selected points — including points local to the eye and points along the meridians governing vision and circulation — can help promote blood flow, reduce inflammatory signaling, and support the nervous regulation of vascular tone. Research in integrative ophthalmology has begun to explore acupuncture’s effects on retinal circulation, and while the evidence base is still growing, clinical experience in East Asian medicine has long documented its role in supporting recovery from vascular events affecting the eye.
Acupuncture treatment for retinal occlusion at our clinic is always integrated with the broader constitutional picture. If you are also managing high blood pressure, diabetes, elevated cholesterol, or chronic stress — all recognized risk factors for retinal vascular events — those will be addressed as part of your care plan, not set aside.
What to Expect at Makari Wellness
Your first visit begins with a thorough intake that goes well beyond the eye itself. We will ask about your sleep, digestion, energy, emotional patterns, and any other health concerns. We will examine your pulse at multiple positions and observe your tongue. This comprehensive picture tells us which organ systems are most involved and guides both acupuncture point selection and any herbal recommendations.
Acupuncture sessions typically last 45 to 60 minutes. Patients often notice a sense of deep relaxation during treatment, and many report improvements in sleep and stress alongside their primary concern. Herbal formulas, when prescribed, are taken daily between sessions and are adjusted as your presentation evolves.
Because retinal occlusion involves the structural health of small blood vessels, improvement through Chinese medicine tends to be gradual. Most patients commit to a course of weekly or twice-weekly treatments over several months, with reassessment built in along the way. We work collaboratively with your ophthalmologist and encourage you to continue recommended monitoring and conventional care — Chinese medicine is intended to complement, not replace, your specialist’s oversight.
Who May Benefit
Patients who seek care at Makari Wellness for retinal occlusion often fall into one of a few groups: those in the recovery phase after an acute occlusive event who want to support healing and reduce risk of recurrence; those with chronic vascular risk factors who are looking for integrative prevention strategies; and those who have not responded fully to conventional treatment and are looking for additional options. In all cases, our approach is individualized, grounded in classical theory, and attentive to your overall health rather than the eye alone.
Specialized Training in Ophthalmological Acupuncture
Not all acupuncturists are trained to treat eye and vision conditions. Ophthalmological acupuncture — like neurological rehabilitation and stroke recovery acupuncture — is a distinct specialty within the field, requiring advanced post-graduate clinical training that goes well beyond standard acupuncture licensure. When seeking acupuncture for an eye or vision condition, it is important to work with a practitioner who has received specific training in this area.
Michael Woodworth, L.Ac., is one of a small number of practitioners in the United States certified in Micro Acupuncture 48 (M48) — a specialized microsystem developed by Dr. Andy Rosenfarb, L.Ac., N.D. M48 maps the entire body to 48 acupuncture points located on the hands and feet, offering a precise, targeted approach to treating degenerative and inflammatory eye conditions including macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa, diabetic retinopathy, and optic nerve conditions. M48 certification represents a level of clinical focus that distinguishes its practitioners from general acupuncture practice — and Michael is among the few in Southern California who hold it.
Take the Next Step
If you or someone you care for has experienced retinal occlusion and you are curious about what acupuncture and classical Chinese herbal medicine may offer, we invite you to Schedule Your Initial Visit at Makari Wellness in Oceanside — our practitioners are ready to listen, assess, and build a care plan tailored specifically to you.