Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration, as defined in Western medicine, is an ocular condition resulting from the age-related degeneration of the macula, a section of the retina responsible for sharp, central vision (Age-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group, 2001, Archives of Ophthalmology). Factors like smoking and obesity are associated with a higher risk (Christen et al., 2001, Journal of the American Medical Association). It exists in two forms: dry AMD (atrophic), which is more common, and wet AMD (neovascular), characterized by faster vision loss (Brown et al., 2005, Ophthalmology). Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) identifies five disharmonious patterns that may contribute to impaired vision: 1) Blood Deficiency, generally caused by insufficient spleen Qi (Chen et al., 2013, Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine); 2) Liver Blood Deficiency, since the liver stores blood (Li et al., 2016, Chinese Medicine); 3) Liver Yin Deficiency, related to dryness and yin-deficient heat; 4) Kidney Yin Deficiency, which manifests as false heat symptoms; 5) Liver Qi Deficiency, often co-occurring with liver Qi stagnation, which impairs the smooth flow of Qi (Wang et al., 2017, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine).