AIM: To investigate the effect of a traditional Chinese medicine(Qi Ming Granule)on the retinal and choroidal circulation of patients with diabetes mellitus.

METHODS:According to the results of fundus fluorescein angiography(FFA), 45 diabetes patients were divided into no diabetic retinopathy(NDR)and non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy(NPDR)group. All the subjects were examined by color Doppler flow imaging(CDFI). We quantitated peak systolic velocity(PSV), end diastolic velocity(EDV)and resistance index(RI)of the ophthalmic artery(OA)and the posterior ciliary artery(PCA). After 3mo ingestion of Qi Ming Granule, all the subjects were examined by the same methods. The alterations of the hemodynamic parameters were observed before and after taking Qi Ming Granule.

RESULTS: After 3mo ingestion of Qi Ming Granule, there were significant increased in PSV and EDV of OA and PCA in the two groups, and RI were significantly decreased.

CONCLUSION: Qi Ming granule can accelerate the blood flow of retina and choroid, improve the ocular blood circulation of the patients with diabetes, and delay the occurrence and development of diabetic retinopathy.