Acupuncture Points for Vision Loss

10 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (9 points)

100%

LI04 · LI11 · BL01 · BL02 · BL18 · GB20 · GB37 · LV03 · GV20

LI04Junction Valley

LI04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 合谷 (hé gǔ)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the hand between 1st & 2nd metacarpal bones approximately in the middle of the 2nd metacarpal bone on the radial side.

⚠️ Cautions: Traditionally forbidden in pregnancy – these are the points used to bring on labour at term. Controlled data show no excess of preterm birth or stillbirth (Carr 2015), but in pregnancy needle only on a clear obstetric indication.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Tinnitus, Release Exterior, Absent Periods, Wind

LI11Pond At The Bend

LI11 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 曲池 (qū chí)

🎯 Location: When elbow is flexed point is in the depression the at the lateral end of the transverse cubital crease midway between LU05 and lateral epicondyle of the humerus.

⚠️ Cautions: Monitor blood pressure and avoid strong stimulation where hypertension is uncontrolled or unstable; hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency. Avoid excessive stimulation in weak patients.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Dizziness, Heat, Vomiting, Abdominal Bloating

BL01Bright Eyes / Eye Point

BL01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 睛明 (jīng míng)

🎯 Location: In the depression the slightly above the inner canthus.

⚠️ Cautions: Contraindicated for direct needling; use only pressure.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Wind, Redness, Swelling, Aversion Cold

BL02Gathered Bamboo

BL02 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 攢竹 (cuán zhú)

🎯 Location: On the medial extremity of the eyebrow or on the supraorbital notch.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with supraorbital nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Wind, Redness, Swelling, Pain

BL18Liver Shu Point

BL18 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肝俞 (gān shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV08 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 9th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Dizziness, Coughing Blood, Jaundice

GB20Wind Pool

GB20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 風池 (fēng chí)

🎯 Location: In the depression the between upper portion of the scm and trapezius on the same level with GV16.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with vertebral artery; avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Stress, Fever, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Wind

GB37Bright Light

GB37 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 光明 (guāng míng)

🎯 Location: 5 thumb widths directly above the tip of the external malleolus on the anterior border of the fibula.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Knee Pain, Heat, Numbness, Pain, Breast Pain

LV03Great Surge

LV03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Liver Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 太衝 (tài chōng)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the foot in the depression the distal to the junction of the 1st and 2nd metatarsal bones.

⚠️ Cautions: Monitor blood pressure and avoid strong stimulation where hypertension is uncontrolled or unstable; hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Anxiety, Shortness of Breath, Sweating

GV20100 Convergences

GV20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 百會 (bǎi huì)

🎯 Location: On the midline of the head 5 thumb widths directly above the midpoint of the anterior hairline approximately on the midpoint of the line connecting apex of the ears.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Palpitations, Jaundice, Qi Deficiency

Study-reported

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60002-3 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, BL02, GB20, GB37, LV03, GV20 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000034735 ↗

Protocol (2 points)

100%

GB20 · GV20

GB20Wind Pool

GB20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 風池 (fēng chí)

🎯 Location: In the depression the between upper portion of the scm and trapezius on the same level with GV16.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with vertebral artery; avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Stress, Fever, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Wind

GV20100 Convergences

GV20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 百會 (bǎi huì)

🎯 Location: On the midline of the head 5 thumb widths directly above the midpoint of the anterior hairline approximately on the midpoint of the line connecting apex of the ears.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Palpitations, Jaundice, Qi Deficiency

Study-reported

Did better than usual care

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(09)60002-9 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. GB20, GV20 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60002-3 ↗

Protocol (4 points)

100%

TB05 · TB23 · GB20 · GV23

TB05Outer Gate

TB05 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 外關 (wài guān)

🎯 Location: 2 thumb widths proximal to the dorsal crease of the wrist on the line connecting TB04 and tip of the olecranon the between radius and ulna.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Sweating, Kidney Deficiency, Dizziness, Tinnitus

TB23Silken Bamboo Hollow

TB23 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Triple Burner Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 絲竹空 (sī zhú kōng)

🎯 Location: In the depression the at the lateral end of the eyebrow.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution near eye.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Wind, Pain, Aversion Cold, Deviation Eye

GB20Wind Pool

GB20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 風池 (fēng chí)

🎯 Location: In the depression the between upper portion of the scm and trapezius on the same level with GV16.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with vertebral artery; avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Stress, Fever, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Wind

GV23Upper Star

GV23 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Governing Vessel

🇨🇳 Chinese: 上星 (shàng xīng)

🎯 Location: 1 thumb width directly above the midpoint of the anterior hairline.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Depression, Wind, Redness, Swelling, Malaria

Study-reported

Needling + Electroacupuncture · 93 sessions over 240 days

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000028202 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. TB05, TB23, GB20 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000034735 ↗
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372 needles for this course · 4 boxes, $79.96

Protocol (4 points)

100%

BL02 · BL18 · BL20 · BL23

BL02Gathered Bamboo

BL02 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 攢竹 (cuán zhú)

🎯 Location: On the medial extremity of the eyebrow or on the supraorbital notch.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with supraorbital nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Wind, Redness, Swelling, Pain

BL18Liver Shu Point

BL18 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 肝俞 (gān shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV08 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 9th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Chest Pain, Dizziness, Coughing Blood, Jaundice

BL20Spleen Shu Point

BL20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 脾俞 (pí shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV06 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 11th thoracic vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Fever, Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Spleen Qi Deficiency

BL23Kidney Shu Point

BL23 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 腎俞 (shèn shū)

🎯 Location: 1.5 thumb widths lateral to the GV04 at the level of the lower border of the spinous process of the 2nd lumbar vertebra.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Diarrhea, Asthma, Tinnitus, Qi Deficiency

Study-reported

Needling · 45 sessions over 90 days

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2017.12.011 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL02, BL18 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60002-3 ↗
Press Needles
180 needles for this course · 2 boxes, $39.98

Protocol (8 points)

100%

LI04 · ST01 · ST36 · SP06 · BL01 · BL02 · GB20 · GB37

LI04Junction Valley

LI04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 合谷 (hé gǔ)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the hand between 1st & 2nd metacarpal bones approximately in the middle of the 2nd metacarpal bone on the radial side.

⚠️ Cautions: Traditionally forbidden in pregnancy – these are the points used to bring on labour at term. Controlled data show no excess of preterm birth or stillbirth (Carr 2015), but in pregnancy needle only on a clear obstetric indication.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Tinnitus, Release Exterior, Absent Periods, Wind

ST01Tear Container

ST01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 承泣 (chéng qì)

🎯 Location: With eyes looking straight forward, point is directly below pupil between eyeball and infraorbital ridge.

⚠️ Cautions: Contraindicated for direct needling; use only pressure.

🛡️ Treats: Tinnitus, Common Cold, Heat, Wind, Redness

ST36Leg Three Miles

ST36 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 足三里 (zú sān lǐ)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths below ST35, 1 finger breadth (middle finger) from anterior border of the tibia.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution in cases of severe varicose veins.

🛡️ Treats: Cough, Fever, Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Shortness of Breath

SP06Three Yin Intersection

SP06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Spleen Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 三陰交 (sān yīn jiāo)

🎯 Location: 3 thumb widths directly above the tip of the medial malleolus posterior to the medial border of the tibia.

⚠️ Cautions: Traditionally forbidden in pregnancy – these are the points used to bring on labour at term. Controlled data show no excess of preterm birth or stillbirth (Carr 2015), but in pregnancy needle only on a clear obstetric indication.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Palpitations, Abdominal Bloating

BL01Bright Eyes / Eye Point

BL01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 睛明 (jīng míng)

🎯 Location: In the depression the slightly above the inner canthus.

⚠️ Cautions: Contraindicated for direct needling; use only pressure.

🛡️ Treats: Heat, Wind, Redness, Swelling, Aversion Cold

BL02Gathered Bamboo

BL02 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 攢竹 (cuán zhú)

🎯 Location: On the medial extremity of the eyebrow or on the supraorbital notch.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with supraorbital nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Wind, Redness, Swelling, Pain

GB20Wind Pool

GB20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 風池 (fēng chí)

🎯 Location: In the depression the between upper portion of the scm and trapezius on the same level with GV16.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with vertebral artery; avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Stress, Fever, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Wind

GB37Bright Light

GB37 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 光明 (guāng míng)

🎯 Location: 5 thumb widths directly above the tip of the external malleolus on the anterior border of the fibula.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Knee Pain, Heat, Numbness, Pain, Breast Pain

Study-reported

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.19917/j.cnki.1005-0779.024094 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04, BL01, BL02, GB20, GB37 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(08)60002-3 ↗

Protocol (4 points)

100%

BL02 · GB20 · XH05 · MS13

BL02Gathered Bamboo

BL02 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Bladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 攢竹 (cuán zhú)

🎯 Location: On the medial extremity of the eyebrow or on the supraorbital notch.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with supraorbital nerve.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Wind, Redness, Swelling, Pain

GB20Wind Pool

GB20 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Gallbladder Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 風池 (fēng chí)

🎯 Location: In the depression the between upper portion of the scm and trapezius on the same level with GV16.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with vertebral artery; avoid deep perpendicular needling.

🛡️ Treats: Stress, Fever, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Wind

XH05Supreme Yang (Sun)

XH05 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Head

🇨🇳 Chinese: 太陽 (tài yáng)

🎯 Location: At the temple, in the tender depression the approximately 1 thumb width posterior to the midpoint between the lateral extremity of the eyebrow & the outer canthus of the eye.

⚠️ Cautions: Caution with temporal artery.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Heat, Wind, Swelling, Pain

MS13Upper-Lateral Line of Occiput

MS13 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Scalp Lines

🇨🇳 Chinese: 枕上旁線 (zhěn shàng páng xiàn)

🎯 Location: On the occiput, lateral to and parallel with the upper-middle line.

Study-reported

Needling + Electroacupuncture · 10 sessions over 5 weeks

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.3389/fmed.2026.1835330 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. BL02, GB20, XH05 also appear in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000034735 ↗
Press Needles
40 needles for this course · 1 box, $19.99
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Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Vision Loss:

Points cited for Vision Loss

How often each point appears across the 10 entries ranked highest for Vision Loss. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • GB20Wind PoolGallbladder Meridian9 of 10
  • BL02Gathered BambooBladder Meridian8 of 10
  • GB37Bright LightGallbladder Meridian4 of 10
  • GV20100 ConvergencesGoverning Vessel4 of 10
  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian4 of 10
  • BL01Bright Eyes / Eye PointBladder Meridian3 of 10
  • BL18Liver Shu PointBladder Meridian3 of 10
  • XH05Supreme Yang (Sun)Extra Points: Head3 of 10
  • GB14Yang BrightGallbladder Meridian2 of 10
  • GV24Spirit CourtGoverning Vessel2 of 10
  • LI03Third SpaceLarge Intestine Meridian2 of 10
  • LV03Great SurgeLiver Meridian2 of 10

How the studies delivered it

What the 8 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Needling5 of 8
  • Electroacupuncture3 of 8

Sessions: the 5 studies that gave a count ran a median of 28 (middle half 10 to 45).

Course: the 5 studies that gave a length ran a median of 5 weeks (middle half 4 weeks to 90 days).

After a treatment: what large safety surveys recorded, and which reactions need a doctor.

Disclaimer: The acupoint information provided is for educational purposes only.