Key points for diagnosis
1. Clinical Manifestations
Initially, the vision is diminished, probably with metamorphopsia and central scotoma of visual field and, later on, severe disturbance of vision occurs.

2. Fundus Examination
(1) Atrophic (dry or non-exudative) type   At the beginning, pigmentary disturbance exists in the macular part, the central fovea reflect of light is cloudy or missing, and there scatters the glass membrance wart unclearly bordered. At the late stage, there can be seen golden reflect of light, atrophic area of pigmentary epithelium in geographic form, cystic degeneration or lamellar hiatus.

(2) Exudative (moist) type  At the initial stage, pigmentary disturbance appears in the macular part, the central fovea reflect of light is missing, and glass membrane wart become confluent. In the middle of the course, there occurs in the macula bleeding, exudation, edema and even preretinal hemorrhage in severe conditions. At the late stage, the bleeding and exudation is absorbed so that a large area of yellowish and whitish scar is formed.

3. Fluorescein Angiography of Fundus
(1) Atrophic type  There is massive glass membrane wart or transmitting fluorescein in geographic shape, which turns to an area of weak fluorescein as a result of choroidocapillary atrophy in the late course of the disease.

(2) Exudative type  Neonatal vessels and fluorescein effusion beneath the retina can be seen at the beginning; at the intermediate stage, fluorescein effusion increases in the pathogenic part; and, at the late stage, the fluorescein is covered by cicatricial tissues, with the transmitting fluorescein found in the depigmentation part.

In TCM, a disease or a symptom might be caused by one pathogenic factor, even two or three pathogenic factors. When diagnosing a disease or a symptom, TCM doctors must follow the principle of "Syndrome Dfferentiation", and then "Suit the Remedy to the Case". In order to gain a more definite and valuable diagnosis, it's important and necessary for the doctor to learn the detailed health information of the patient, including his/her disease duration, age, sex, height, weight, family history, urine, stool, diet, sleep, sweat, energy, mood (emotion), as well as the tongue conditions and the palm conditions, etc. If you would want our expert to create a TCM diagnosis, you're welcome to contact us.