In addition it may be needed it proliferative retinopathy has been picked up at a late stage or if the laser treatment has been ineffective. This type of surgery is called vitrectomy. It involves removing the jelly from the back of the eye and any bleeding is removed at the same time. Laser treatment may be applied at the time of the operation. It is applied in many tiny individual burns which destroy small areas of the retina.
Laser treatment is applied on an outpatient basis.
No anaesthetic is required although some drops are put in the eye to make it feel numb. Any number of burns may need to be applied from about 50 to about 2000. Occasionally this may lead to a problem with night vision or interfere with driving. This is very rare. If diabetic retinopathy has already been diagnosed, as long as it has not reached an advanced stage, good control of blood glucose will prevent it from developing further.