Age-related macular degeneration, also known as age-related macular degeneration, is a common blinding eye disease most commonly seen in people over the age of 50. In recent years, with the aging process in China, the incidence of this disease is increasing year by year. The disease is clinically divided into two types: dry and wet, of which wet is the most dangerous, and about 90% of patients with severe visual impairment are of this type. In the early stages of the disease, patients often show a gradual loss of vision and a large number of yellow dots, called vitreous warts, can be seen in the fundus. These vitreous warts are the result of the accumulation of metabolites deposited by the retinal pigment epithelium and eventually affect the function of the brush membrane, producing choroidal neovascularization, which is equivalent to counterfeit products with extremely loose and brittle endothelial cell contacts, and can easily rupture causing massive bleeding in the fundus and affecting the patient’s vision. Patients with age-related macular degeneration have darkness in the center of the front of the eye in the early stage, whiteness in seeing things, decreased contrast sensitivity, and difficulty in reading. In the later stage, due to repeated hemorrhages in the fundus, the visual acuity decreases significantly and the visual objects are distorted, which seriously affects the quality of life of patients. Since the onset of the disease is mostly in the macula, which is the most sensitive place for human vision. Therefore, it is more tricky to treat. Here are several internationally recognized methods: Photodynamic therapy: This method is to inject a photosensitizer called visudyne into the vein, which can specifically bind to HDL in the neovascularization, and then produce a large number of free radicals under the excitation of specific laser to destroy the neovascularization, so as to achieve the purpose of closing the neovascularization. This therapy has been widely accepted worldwide because it causes minimal damage to the macula and retinal tissues and can be used repeatedly. However, photodynamic therapy also has some limitations, it can only be useful for the neovascularization that has already grown, but not for the blood vessels that cannot be seen by the naked eye or have not grown, and recurrence is almost inevitable. Generally speaking, 90% of patients are still likely to relapse 3 months after treatment, requiring multiple treatments and more expensive, with one drug costing about $16,000. Vitreous cavity injection of anti-VEGF drugs: A variety of factors exist in the human eye, and the production of neovascularization is directly related to two factors – vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor. Under normal conditions these two substances maintain a dynamic balance, and if this balance is disturbed, neovascularization can be produced in the presence of VEGF. Studies have shown that there is a direct relationship between the growth of neovascularization in the fundus and an increase in VEGF. Therefore, some scholars have tried to neutralize the increased VEGF by injecting anti-VEGF drugs into the vitreous cavity, hoping to inhibit the growth of neovascularization, and the previous clinical results have shown some effect. However, on the one hand, these drugs are not yet available in China, and it needs time to test whether the long-term application in the eye will produce other side effects; on the other hand, the time of the drug’s action in the eye is about one and a half months, and the neovascularization starts to grow again after the effect of the drug, so long-term injection is needed. As for other western medical therapies, the effect is not very satisfactory, and they are all indicators but not the root cause. Chinese medicine therapy: Chinese medicine has certain advantages in the treatment of the disease. From the point of view of Chinese medicine, the disease occurs mostly in older people over 50 years of age. As we age, the human body decreases in function and the qi and blood become weaker. From the eye anatomy, the fundus choroid and retina are rich in blood vessels, which are organs with more blood and qi. These factors interact with each other and eventually cause neovascularization, repeated bleeding, exudation and edema in the fundus of the eye, which affects vision. In response to the above disease mechanism, we need to regulate and prevent from qi and blood. The Chinese medicine master Tang Yuzhi treats the disease from qi and blood, using “cool blood and remove blood stasis formula” and “bright eye granules”, and has received good results, about 80% of the patients’ vision has been stabilized, and many patients’ vision has been improved. In fact, the best method should be a combination of Chinese and Western medicine, neovascularization is like a weed growing under the eye, using photodynamic therapy to remove the neovascularization, the whole body condition is like the soil, through the Chinese medicine diagnosis and treatment to improve the acid-base state of the soil, remove the weed growth environment, it is possible to cure both the symptoms and the root cause, to achieve the purpose of the disease. Prevention is more important: there is no method that can completely cure the disease, so prevention is particularly important. As early as several thousand years ago, the ancients had the assertion that “the upper work to cure the disease” and “prevention before the disease, that is, the disease to prevent change”. According to the international research on the disease, the occurrence of the disease and light damage, smoking, race, genetics, cardiovascular disease, diet and other related. Race, genetics and other factors are inherent and cannot be changed, so the only thing we can do is to change our lifestyle and develop healthy habits. Specifically, we should pay attention to the following points: Quit smoking: A study in the United States showed that smoking is twice as likely to cause age-related macular degeneration as normal people. Avoid bright light stimulation: pay attention to avoiding light such as wearing sunglasses when exercising under bright light; reasonable diet: some research shows that the lesion of macula in the fundus is related to the lack of carotene, lutein and vitamin C and E. You can eat some corn, kiwi, tomatoes and green vegetables to supplement the right amount of trace elements. Eat meat containing more unsaturated fatty acids, such as fish, to reduce the risk of the disease, as for foods containing high cholesterol should be eaten as little as possible. Moderate exercise: obesity and cardiovascular disease may promote the progression of the disease, so it is important to strengthen physical exercise and have a strong body to slow down the development of the disease. From the point of view of Chinese medicine, “movement is the Yang, static is the yin”, exercise is conducive to the movement of blood and qi, meridians and channels; at the same time, pay attention to the solid protection of the stomach, the spleen and stomach for the origin of the day, the source of qi and blood biochemical, is the whole body qi and blood and essence can be glorified on the basis of the purpose. For those patients with fatigue, lack of color and weakness of the spleen, we can use Radix et Rhizoma Ginseng and Radix Astragali in water to achieve the effect of Qi; for patients with weakness of the waist and knees, insomnia and night sweats, red tongue and less moss, we can use Fructus Lycii and Semen Cuscutae with Chrysanthemum in tea to nourish the kidneys and brighten the eyes.