Diagnosing Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration is a progressive disease that occurs in the eye and affects vision. It’s most common in people of an older age. Diagnosing macular degeneration is very important so you can treat it early on. 

Acupuncture for glaucoma and other eye conditions

Research findings show that an early diagnosis and treatment will help delay some of the symptoms and most importantly ensure it doesn’t get severe. The common indicator of the disease includes the presence of deposits called drusen under the retina. Drusen are tiny yellow deposits that may grow bigger and obstruct the central field of your vision. 

Below are some tests that the optometrist or ophthalmologist may take. 

Dilated Eye Exam

In this procedure, your healthcare professional will use eye drops to dilate your pupils. The dilation will help them have a clear magnified view of your retina and macula thus determining if there are any abnormalities i.e., optic nerve damage.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT)

acupuncture for eye conditions

This method can also be used to determine the response of the retina to different types of treatment. For example, if you had a laser or injection treatment, the 3D image may help check if the swelling is getting better or worse. It is a technique that is noninvasive and that uses cross-sectional images to measure the various thickness or thinness of the layers in the retina.

Fluorescein Angiography

The Fluorescein Angiography procedure includes an injection of a coloured dye in one of the veins on your arm. The dye travels to the eye and into the blood vessels of the retina. The eye specialist then uses a special camera to take pictures of the eye. This method is used to detect any abnormality of the macula— the small area found at the centre of the retina. The abnormality includes the presence of new blood vessels that are leaking fluid in the macula. The name of this type of macular degeneration is wet AMD.

Macular Degeneration Eye

Amsler grid test

This method can also be conducted at home. It helps identify the early signs of retinal abnormalities. The Amsler grid also helps in monitoring vision changes if there was a previous AMD diagnosis. It consists of a dot in the middle of the page that is surrounded by grid straight lines which intersect at a right angle.

The exam includes covering one of your eyes and staring at the dot. If you don’t see the lines or if they appear wavy then it may mean the presence of AMD.

Indocyanine green angiography

Just like fluorescein angiography, this method involves the injection of a green dye in the arm. They then follow the same procedure as in fluorescein angiography to determine the type of macular degeneration (wet or dry).

Takeaway

Getting an early diagnosis of AMD can be a big help. In cases where there is already a diagnosis traditional Chinese medicine may be helpful in treating it. For more information and to book an Initial Exam with one of our practitioners, call us on 07 846 7956.

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Our Offer to You

Fill in our online questionnaire for free – and save the $135 it would cost you to do this detailed medical history in person with a practitioner.  You can request a phone call from a practitioner after they have read your online form, or just book the 60 minute initial exam for $40.  So, call us on 07 846 7956 to book, or fill in the questionnaire now.

References

Al-Zamil, W. M., & Yassin, S. A. (2017). Recent developments in age-related macular degeneration: a review. Clinical interventions in aging, 12, 1313.

Fong, D. S. (2000). Age-related macular degeneration: update for primary care. American family physician, 61(10), 3035-3042.

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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.