Advances in minimally traumatic retinal laser therapy.

INTRODUCTION: Retinal laser therapy has played a key role in managing numerous retinal vascular diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion, macular edema, and central serous chorioretinopathy since the 1960s. While conventional laser approaches are shown to be effective, they have been associated with permanent tissue scarring and vision loss. Recent advancements aim to minimize this collateral damage, using subdamaging or selective energy delivery to preserve healthy retina while balancing treatment benefit.

AREAS COVERED: This review summarizes novel minimally traumatic retinal laser therapies, including micropulse lasers, selective retina therapy, nanosecond lasers, and other advanced laser and delivery systems. Although supporting clinical studies remains relatively small and longer follow-up is needed for clinical standardization, early results are promising, pointing toward safer and more effective retinal laser treatments options. A literature search of PubMed/MEDLINE and Embase was conducted for studies published up to July 2025.

EXPERT OPINION: Minimally traumatic retinal lasers offer a promising adjunctive or alternative treatment for pharmacologic treatments with vision-preserving outcomes with reduced procedural burden. As ongoing research continues to validate safety and efficacy, these therapies will continue to play a critical role in the dynamic field of retinal disease management.