There are many different kinds of eye complications caused by diabetes, but why is diabetic retinopathy (commonly known as fundopathy) the only one that gets more attention? The reason is that retinopathy has the most serious impact on vision and is often irreversible. So once you have diabetic retinopathy, is there any way to save it? It is safe to say that the only recognized and effective method worldwide is laser treatment. What can laser treatment do? For diabetic macular edema (the macula is the most critical part of a person’s vision), laser treatment can reduce the accumulation of fluid leaking from the macula to reduce macular edema and prevent further vision loss. Although empirically some patients may have improved vision after laser, it is generally difficult to restore vision to normal. For severe non-proliferative (fluorescence imaging shows signs of retinal ischemia but no neovascularization yet) diabetic retinopathy, the laser aims to prevent neovascularization from occurring. For proliferative diabetic retinopathy with neovascularization, laser photocoagulation of all areas of the retina beyond the macula (i.e., total retinal photocoagulation) is intended to subside the abnormal neovascularization and prevent its further development. Laser photocoagulation is beneficial in reducing the chance of vitreous blood accumulation and preventing the development of retinal detachment or folds by tractionation. Laser treatment is clearly useful in controlling the progression of the disease, but it also has certain side effects, such as temporary blurred vision, mild vision loss and visual field defects. In most cases, repeated and multiple laser treatments are necessary. Although laser treatment can have these effects, it cannot cure diabetic retinopathy, so even if total retinal photocoagulation has been completed, follow-up visits to the ophthalmology department must be maintained.