A Case Report of Integrative Medicine Treatment for Diabetic Retinopathy

Introduction: Diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes mellitus, is known to be a major cause of vision loss. This study reports the effects of a combination of Korean and Western medicine on a patient with diabetic retinopathy.Case Summary: A 65-year-old female patient visited a Korean medical clinic for blurred vision and photophobia in both eyes, accompanied by headache and dizziness. The patient was treated with acupuncture and herbal medicine combined with Western medical treatment. After a course of integrative treatments involving 128 outpatient visits, the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) scores for the blurred vision and photophobia symptoms in both eyes were alleviated from 8 (Day 1) to 2 (Day 389).Conclusion: An integrated approach using both Korean and Western medicine for patients with diabetic retinopathy may improve symptoms and enhance quality of life.