The laser is used to create scars throughout the peripheral or outer retina. A scarred retina needs less oxygen than an untreated retina. Therefore the new abnormal blood vessels are no longer needed. In many cases, they'll disappear completely after this treatment. The periphery of the retina has many nerves, and some patients find these treatments uncomfortable.
Most patients manage well using only eye drops to freeze the eye.
But a small number require a freezing injection around the eye, similar to how a dentist freezes a tooth. Many patients complain of blurred vision while the treatments heal. This may last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. The most inconvenient side effect of this technique is that the eyes take longer to adapt to very bright and very dark lighting. This usually improves with time, although never completely in some people.