Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Treatment

The incidence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is increasing. Nearly two million people in Germany are affected, and among those over 70, every tenth person is impacted. One in four people over the age of 50 already shows early changes in the macula. Once AMD is fully developed, the chances of a cure are low. This makes prevention and interventions that can halt the progression all the more important.

The macula, a small area in the central retina, provides the highest visual acuity and enables central vision, fine detail recognition, and color perception. The rest of the retina perceives only outlines and light-dark contrasts. If the central part of the retina is lost, the center of the visual field appears blurry, distorted, or as a dark spot. Although complete blindness does not occur with AMD, patients are unable to read, watch TV, drive, or often even recognize faces.

Forms of AMD: Dry and Wet Macular Degeneration

Dry macular degeneration is the most common form, accounting for about 85% of cases. In this form, the central retinal cells slowly die off. Currently, there are no effective medications or other treatment options. Dry AMD can progress to the wet form.
With wet macular degeneration (about 15% of cases), abnormal blood vessels grow into the macula from the underlying choroid. Increasing leakage from these vessels leads to fluid and blood accumulation in and under the macula, causing blurred or distorted vision. Eventually, expanding spots block the central field of vision. The first warning sign is that straight lines suddenly appear bent or distorted. Wet AMD progresses more rapidly.

Therapeutic Options (Selection)

  • Acupuncture
  • Laser procedures
  • Surgery (in selected cases)
  • Photodynamic therapy for a specific subgroup of patients, where a drug is injected, allowing selective destruction of abnormal macular vessels by laser.
  • Further information is available on the German Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired (DBSV) website.

Risk factors and possible causes include:

  • Age over 70
  • Gender (women are more frequently affected)
  • Family history, especially in direct relatives
  • Poor vitamin nutrition
  • Light-colored iris
  • UV exposure
  • Prolonged exposure to improper lighting (blue-tinted artificial light) during working life
  • Smoking
  • High blood pressure

Results with Acupuncture for AMD

An increasing number of ophthalmologists report positive results with acupuncture, especially for dry and, in some cases, wet AMD, often in combination with herbs or homeopathic remedies. A cure is not to be expected. However, the progression—which can lead to complete loss of central vision—can be halted or at least significantly slowed. In many patients, the treatment has resulted in a noticeable and even objectively measurable improvement in visual acuity. The underlying mechanism is not fully understood, but targeted acupuncture appears to significantly improve blood circulation in the retina, particularly in the macula.

The earlier treatment begins in the course of AMD, the more successful it is. Even unilateral AMD should be treated to protect the other eye. There are no universal acupuncture points; a thorough diagnosis according to traditional Chinese medicine is required. This reveals disturbances in different parts of the body, allowing treatment to be tailored to the individual patient and their specific imbalances.

At the start of treatment, ten basic sessions are usually necessary, typically administered twice daily (morning and evening) over five consecutive weekdays. After this intensive treatment week, it can be assessed how the patient is responding and how frequently the treatment should be continued. For patients who respond well, maintenance sessions at intervals of three to six months may be needed to stabilize results. However, this must always be determined individually.

Cost: Statutory health insurance generally does not cover this therapy, with few exceptions among private insurers, citing insufficient evidence of convincing effectiveness. Our center follows the official fee schedule or individual agreements as applicable.

Feel free to arrange a non-binding and free consultation. We look forward to your visit.