Purpose: To conduct a CiteSpace-based visualization and analysis of the literature on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) from January 2014 to January 2024. Methods: The literature was retrieved from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database. Co-occurrence, clustering, and emergence analyses of annual publications, authors, research institutions, and keywords were performed using Note Express and CiteSpace software to generate knowledge maps. Results: A total of 643 Chinese-language articles were included. The annual publication trend was characterized by fluctuations. The primary research institutions were Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Eye Hospital China Academy of Chinese Medicine Sciences. Twenty high-frequency keywords were identified, including "diabetes,""TCM," and "review," along with 12 emergent terms such as "Qiming granules" and "data mining." The research focus in 2014 was on exploring therapeutic methods and the efficacy of proprietary Chinese medicines. From 2016 to 2017, the research perspective expanded to include symptoms and multi-factorial analysis. Between 2018 and 2020, there was an in-depth investigation into evidence types and disease stages. After 2019, the emphasis shifted towards TCM-specific therapies and patient-centered concepts. From 2022 to 2024, innovation in research methods and the theory of TCM complexes emerged as new hotspots. Conclusion: The research on TCM treatment for DR is still in an ascending phase. The primary research hotspot currently centers on Qiming granules. Future trends are likely to focus on the efficacy and mechanisms of action. The combined application of different therapies and long-term follow-up experimental research could provide a more robust basis for evidence-based medicine, unearth the potential of TCM, and promote its development.