Causes of Macular Degeneration

Causes and Triggers of Macular Degeneration

Macular Degeneration or MD, is a widespread eye disease that affects the centre of your vision and can cause vision loss. It is most common in older people. As many as one in seven people over the age of 50 get this disease. 

Acupuncture for glaucoma and other eye conditions

Causes

While it isn’t known for sure what causes this disease, there are certain factors that can increase your risk of developing it. These include:

  • Being older than 55 
  • macular degeneration running in your family
  • Smoking
  • Being overweight
  • Having cardiovascular disease
  • Having high cholesterol

There has also been research showing that macular degeneration may affect white people more than other populations.

Triggers

Triggers are things that cause certain symptoms to occur or that set off a disease. A general guideline for people with a disease is to avoid its triggers. This starts with knowing exactly what to avoid and why. Here are some common triggers of macular degeneration:

Macular Degeneration Eye
  1. Smoking: According to a 2020 study published in the Journal of Ophthalmic and Psychological Optics, smoking worsens macular degeneration. Their findings showed that patients who smoke experience vision loss 25% faster than those who do not. Smoke reduces the amount of oxygen delivered to the eye. The oxidative damage that follows may contribute to the progression of the disease.
  2. Prolonged Exposure to Sunlight: Staying in the sun for too long may damage a part of the eye known as the retina. This may trigger or worsen some of the symptoms of macular degeneration.
  3. High Blood Pressure: When someone has high blood pressure, the blood vessels in their eyes constrict. This reduces blood flow to the eyes, which increases the risk of macular degeneration and triggers symptoms of the disease. With this in mind it makes sense to be aware of things that may increase your blood pressure. 
  4. Inactivity: Lack of exercise may reduce the amount of oxygen reaching the eye. It may also lead to weight gain, which may contribute to macular degeneration.
  5. Poor Diet: Eating foods that are low in antioxidants, high glycemic foods, have high amounts of sugar, and those with unhealthy fats increases your risk of MD. This also applies to food with a high level of cholesterol. The fatty substance builds up in blood vessels and reduces blood flow, which worsens the symptoms of the disease.
  6. Medications: Some drugs are linked to an increased risk or worsening of macular degeneration. Although the research is not conclusive, some medications include beta-blockers and aspirin. It is important to only take drugs that help you manage blood pressure and any pre-existing cardiovascular disease.
Female infertility due to weak digestion

What Next? 

Now you know the main causes and triggers of MD, the next course of action is to make conscious decisions aimed at avoiding the triggers and managing the disease. This includes eating a healthy diet, limiting exposure to direct sunlight, exercising frequently, quitting smoking, and watching your high blood pressure. 

Traditional Chinese Medicine may also help. Some of its dietary suggestions, recommended lifestyle changes, and treatments may improve your eye health and general wellbeing. For more on this topic reach out to one of our representatives at Centre of Balance or call 07 846 7956.

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References

Heesterbeek, T. J., Lorés‐Motta, L., Hoyng, C. B., Lechanteur, Y. T., & den Hollander, A. I. (2020). Risk factors for progression of age‐related macular degeneration. Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics, 40(2), 140-170.

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Monica

I am originally from Hebei province in China. I hold a NZ bachelor’s degree of health and science with a major in acupuncture. I am honoured to be an acupuncturist at Centre of Balance. Helping patients to alleviate their pain brings me the greatest joy. Chinese medicine emphasises the unity of human beings and nature. During the treatment, I hope to not only relieve your pain but also help you to understand the principles behind acupuncture’s effectiveness, as well as the significant impact of diet, emotions, lifestyle habits, and living environments on disease recovery. Self-healing is an ability that our bodies are naturally endowed with.

I studied acupuncture in New Zealand and completed one and a half years of supervised clinical internship before graduating. In the early stage of my training, I mainly worked with patients experiencing neck, shoulder, and lower back pain. Under the guidance of senior clinical tutors, I gradually developed hands-on experience and confidence in treating musculoskeletal pain conditions.
As my clinical exposure expanded, I began treating a wider range of internal conditions. Alongside traditional acupuncture, I was introduced to Umbilical Acupuncture and Tungs-acupuncture Points. What interested me most about these approaches is that they often do not require needling directly at the painful area, yet can still achieve very effective results.
I was especially inspired by observing my supervisor use Umbilical Acupuncture to treat common conditions such as insomnia, menstrual irregularities, and even rheumatoid arthritis, with very positive outcomes. Another supervisor was highly skilled in Tungs-acupuncture Points and achieved excellent results in treating pain, infertility, menstrual disorders, and a variety of women’s health conditions. After completing my studies and entering clinical practice, once I observed Dr. Szenan Phua using Tungs-acupuncture points to help cancer patients relieve pain, which further strengthened my trust in this treatment method.
I later completed training in Dr. Tan Balance Acupuncture, which had a strong influence on the way I approach treatment. One of the most noticeable features of this method is how quickly patients often feel improvement, especially with pain conditions. Dr. Szenan Phua’s New Balance Acupuncture combines meridian regulation with structural adjustment and internal organ balancing, including techniques such as pulse balancing and spinal adjustment.
From my clinical experience, pain is rarely just a local issue. It often involves underlying organ weakness or structural imbalance. When these aspects are addressed together, treatment can be more thorough and longer-lasting. I also apply this approach to internal conditions, particularly in fertility and women’s health. This includes supporting natural conception, IVF preparation and embryo transfer, pregnancy support, early-pregnancy nausea, and late-pregnancy labour induction. I combine these treatments with concepts learned from a few additional fertility training, which has given me a broader and more flexible clinical perspective. This has reinforced my belief that acupuncture should be adapted to each individual rather than applied through fixed formulas.
Two other areas of study that have been very helpful in my clinical work are Tongue Diagnosis and Dr. Zhu’s Scalp Acupuncture. Although tongue diagnosis is taught in my standard Chinese medicine training, further study allowed me to deepen and refine my diagnostic skills.
My first formal training was in Li’s Tongue Diagnosis, which looks not only at organ patterns, but also at how different areas of the tongue reflect the body’s structure. This system also explores personality traits and changes during pregnancy, making it both clinically useful and engaging. I later attended online lectures on Yin’s Tongue Diagnosis and studied the related materials independently. this learning has helped me make clearer and more accurate pattern differentiation, allowing my acupuncture treatments to be more targeted. It covers a wide range of conditions, including skin disorders, oncology-related presentations, mental health patterns, and joint or limb problems. In practice, tongue observation often provides valuable insight even before a patient begins describing their symptoms.
In addition to the methods above, I regularly use local bloodletting techniques, which can be very effective for improving circulation, reducing swelling, and relieving pain. I also incorporate auricular (ear) acupressure and stimulation, which I commonly use for allergies, insomnia, headaches, stress management, and various internal conditions.
In my clinical work, I value taking the time to listen carefully to each patient and to understand their overall health, lifestyle, and concerns. Based on each individual’s condition, I also provide personalised dietary guidance and lifestyle or wellness advice to support overall health and long-term wellbeing. I commonly support patients with musculoskeletal pain, such as neck, shoulder, knee, and back pain, as well as stress-related conditions, sleep issues, migraines, digestive concerns, and women’s health and fertility-related conditions.