This paper summarizes Professor

SUN Yuanzheng

's academic thought and clinical experience in treating diabetic retinopathy (DR) with

yuan

-primary and

luo

-connecting meridian-regulating acupuncture. Professor

SUN

considers that the fundamental cause of DR lies in visceral dysfunction

with stagnation in the ocular collateral vessels and impairment of the mysterious orifices being the core pathogenesis. He proposes the treatment model of "regulating viscera

unblocking ocular collaterals

and opening mysterious orifices" based on

yuan

-primary and

luo

-connecting meridian-regulating acupuncture.

Yuan

-primary and

luo

-connecting points are used to balance

qi

blood

yin

and

yang

of the viscera. Baihui (GV20) is stimulated with transcranial repetitive acupuncture to activate the yang

qi

of the governor vessel and invigorate

qi

in the twelve meridians

improving systemic mic

rocirculation. Combining this with stimulation of ocular areas

Fengchi (GB20)

and periocular points

the stasis in the ocular collaterals are cleared and the mysterious orifices are unblocked

addressing both the root and manifestations of DR.