Macular Telangiectasia type 1 treated with integrated traditional Chinese acupuncture and Conbercept: a case report

IntroductionMacular Telangiectasia type 1 is a congenital vascular disorder primarily affecting males, characterized by unilateral exudative lesions on the temporal macula. Intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy is commonly used, but the response can be suboptimal in some patients. In this case, we report the management of Macular Telangiectasia type 1 using a integration of intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy and traditional Chinese acupuncture.Case presentationA 38-year-old male presented with progressive vision loss and metamorphopsia in his right eye. Fundus examination and multimodal imaging (OCT/OCTA and fluorescein angiography) identified a perimacular hard exudate ring, cystoid macular edema, and juxtafoveal telangiectasis, consistent with idiopathic Macular Telangiectasia type 1. For the intervention, the patient received a total of three intravitreal Conbercept injections administered once monthly, integrated with peri-treatment acupuncture at predefined acupoints. Four months after the last treatment, the patient exhibited both visual and anatomical improvement.ConclusionThe integration of traditional Chinese acupuncture with Conbercept may offer therapeutic benefits for Macular Telangiectasia type 1 in this patient. Clinically meaningful improvements were observed, including improved visual acuity, reduced metamorphopsia, and decreased central retinal thickness over follow-up.