Diabetic Retinopathy

What Is Diabetic Retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common eye disease caused by diabetes and a leading cause of vision loss worldwide. It develops when chronically high blood sugar damages the small blood vessels that supply the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.

Over time, these weakened vessels can leak fluid, bleed, or grow abnormally. If not properly managed, diabetic retinopathy can scar the retina and threaten central vision.

Non-proliferative

This is the more common form of diabetic retinopathy. Non-proliferative means there are no blood vessels growing yet. Circulation slows down to the back of the eye, the walls of the blood vessels in the retina weaken. As more and more vessels become blocked, parts of the retina will suffer from lack of blood supply hence the body will signal new blood vessels to grow

Proliferative

New blood vessels begin to grow along the retina but they are weak and can easily leak blood and fluid. This stage is severe as blurry vision can progress quickly to severe vision loss or blindness as well as increasing risks to developing other problems like glaucoma or a detached retina.

How Diabetes Affects the Retina

Diabetic retinopathy is not just an eye problem it reflects ongoing stress in the body caused by unstable blood sugar and circulation.

High blood sugar damages and weakens retinal blood vessels
Insulin resistance leaves excess glucose in the bloodstream, accelerating vascular injury
Fluid leakage and fragile new vessel growth can distort or swell the macula (central vision)
Retinal swelling, bleeding, and oxygen deprivation increase the risk of vision loss and retinal detachment

Early Signs and Symptoms

Diabetic retinopathy often develops silently. Many people have no symptoms in the early stages, which is why routine eye exams are essential.

Possible symptoms include:

Blurry or fluctuating vision
Dark spots or floaters
Difficulty reading or seeing at night
Empty, dark, or distorted areas in the field of vision

Who Is Most at Risk?

You may be at higher risk for diabetic retinopathy if you:

Use insulin or diabetes medications
Have poorly controlled blood sugar or elevated A1C levels
Have had type 1 or type 2 diabetes for many years
Skip regular dilated eye exams

The longer diabetes is present and the less stable blood sugar is the greater the risk to retinal health.

Proven Ways to Protect Your Vision

Protecting vision with diabetes requires a proactive, long-term approach:

Keep blood sugar within your target range through diet, exercise, and medication
Monitor A1C levels and aim for consistent daily control
Manage blood pressure and cholesterol to reduce vascular stress
Schedule comprehensive dilated eye exams at least once per year

Early detection and consistent care can significantly slow progression.

How Traditional Chinese Medicine & Ophthalmic Acupuncture May Help

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) takes a whole-body approach to diabetic retinopathy by addressing the root imbalances that contribute to retinal damage.

From a TCM perspective, eye disease does not occur in isolation. Diabetic retinopathy reflects underlying dysfunction in blood sugar regulation, circulation, and organ systems involved in metabolism.

Treatment often focuses on:

Supporting pancreatic and digestive function to help stabilize blood sugar
Improving circulation and reducing inflammation and oxidative stress
Strengthening the body’s ability to nourish retinal tissue
Reducing retinal bleeding and fluid accumulation
Enhancing oxygen-rich blood flow to the retina and optic structures

Care is personalized and may include ophthalmic acupuncture, customized herbal medicine, and dietary and lifestyle guidance, all tailored to the individual.

Our Clinical Experience

Diabetic retinopathy is often one of the fastest-responding retinal conditions we treat. When patients commit to a comprehensive program and address both blood sugar control and retinal circulation, we frequently see measurable improvements in visual stability and vascular health.

Concerned about changes in vision because of diabetes? A consultation can help assess your situation and determine whether an integrative approach may benefit your eye health.

Normal Sight

Retinopathy sight

What are the most common causes of Diabetic Retinopathy?

Anyone that has diabetes, whether it be Type 1 or Type 2, can develop diabetic retinopathy. The longer someone has diabetes and the more severe it is, the greater the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. Risk also increases in people with uncontrolled high blood sugar, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and tobacco use.

How can Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture treat Diabetic Retinopathy?

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) focuses on correcting the underlying issue that leads to the deterioration of your retinal health. We know that the eye issue did not progress on its own, thus we must address the overall health and any underlying organ dysfunction(s) to ensure proper eye health as well.

Traditional Chinese Medicine can strengthen the body’s organ system to maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
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Because diabetic retinopathy is a result of complications of diabetes. TCM treatment will often focus on strengthening the pancreas and spleen. This often involves using herbal medicine to help manage blood sugar levels to strengthen the body. Lifestyle and dietary recommendations are important to ensure proper blood circulation and reduce any inflammation and oxidative stress.

To focus on the eye directly, TCM treatments aim to slow down or stop the tiny blood vessels from bleeding, drain fluids from the eyes and promote newly oxygenated blood through the retina. The importance is enhancing proper circulation to the retina and its surrounding structures. This is done by a customized tailored treatment plan that includes a combination of acupuncture and herbal medicine.