At a glance
Retinal laser therapy is a procedure in which a focused beam of light is used to treat damaged or abnormal tissue at the back of the eye.
The retina is the thin, light-sensitive layer lining the inside of the eye. When it is torn, leaking, or growing abnormal blood vessels, the laser delivers precise bursts of energy that create tiny, controlled scars. Those scars seal leaks, destroy abnormal tissue, or weld a detaching retina back in place, all without any cut to the eye surface.
Medical Condition
Doctors use retinal laser therapy for several conditions in which the retina is at risk of permanent damage or vision loss.
- Diabetic retinopathy: abnormal blood vessels that grow and leak in people with long-standing diabetes.
- Retinal tear or hole: a small break in the retina that can lead to a full detachment if left untreated.
- Retinal detachment (early or partial): when the retina begins to lift away from the back of the eye.
- Macular degeneration (wet type): leaking or growing blood vessels beneath the central part of the retina.
- Branch or central retinal vein occlusion: a blocked vein that causes fluid to build up in the retina.
- Diabetic macular edema: swelling in the macula (the central area of the retina responsible for sharp vision) caused by fluid leakage.
- Retinopathy of prematurity: abnormal vessel growth in the eyes of premature newborns.
- Central serous chorioretinopathy: a condition where fluid leaks under the retina, distorting central vision.
This treatment is not suitable for everyone. Your ophthalmologist will weigh the risks against the benefits when any of the following situations apply.
- The retina is already fully detached and requires surgical repair instead.
- The eye has significant bleeding inside it (vitreous hemorrhage) that blocks the laser from reaching the retina.
- The cornea (the clear front surface) or lens is too cloudy for the laser to focus accurately.
- The patient cannot hold their eye still enough during the procedure.
- Certain advanced stages of macular disease where laser would destroy more functional tissue than it saves.
Risks & Complications
Retinal laser therapy is generally considered a low-risk outpatient procedure, but no treatment on the eye is entirely without side effects.
- Temporary blurring or reduced vision in the hours after treatment, especially when the macular area is involved.
- Mild discomfort or a sensation of heat during the procedure.
- Small permanent blind spots (scotomas) if the laser inadvertently affects healthy tissue near the treatment area.
- Reduced night vision or narrowed side vision after extensive laser treatment for diabetic retinopathy.
- Swelling inside the eye (macular edema) in the days following treatment.
- Accidental burn to the fovea (the very centre of sharp vision), which is rare but can cause lasting vision loss.
- Bleeding inside the eye, which is uncommon but can occur if fragile abnormal vessels are disrupted.
- Need for repeat sessions if the condition progresses or if the first treatment does not fully achieve the intended result.
Preparation & Procedure
Most patients do not need to fast before retinal laser therapy, but your doctor will give specific instructions based on the type of laser and whether a dye injection is planned.
If fluorescein angiography (a dye test that maps blood vessels in the retina) is scheduled on the same day to guide treatment, your doctor may ask you to avoid eating for a few hours beforehand, since nausea is a possible reaction to the dye. Blood thinners and diabetes medications are usually continued as normal, but your doctor will confirm this. Smokers are often advised to avoid smoking on the day of the appointment because it can affect eye circulation.
The following tests are commonly done before or at the appointment to plan the procedure.
- Visual acuity test: reading letters on a chart to measure how sharp your vision is.
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT): a scan that shows a detailed cross-section of the retina layers.
- Fluorescein angiography: a photograph taken after a dye is injected into a vein in the arm, revealing leaking or abnormal vessels.
- Fundus photography: a wide-angle photograph of the back of the eye for comparison before and after treatment.
- Intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement: checking the pressure inside the eye.
The procedure itself usually follows these steps.
- Eye drops are applied to widen (dilate) your pupil so the laser can reach the retina. This takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
- Anaesthetic (numbing) drops are applied so you feel minimal discomfort.
- You sit at a slit lamp (a microscope with a bright light) or recline in a chair, depending on the laser system used.
- A contact lens is placed gently on your eye to keep it steady and help focus the laser.
- The laser delivers a series of brief pulses. You may see flashes of light. Each pulse lasts only a fraction of a second.
- Your doctor monitors the retina throughout and adjusts the position and intensity of each pulse.
- The contact lens is removed and the eye is examined. The session typically lasts between a few minutes and around half an hour, depending on how much of the retina needs treatment.
- You rest briefly in the clinic before going home with a companion, since your vision will be blurred from the dilating drops.
Aftercare
Retinal laser therapy is almost always done as an outpatient, meaning you go home the same day, but your vision and eye comfort will need attention for at least several days.
- Arrange for someone to drive you home. Your pupils remain dilated for several hours, making driving unsafe.
- Expect blurring, increased light sensitivity, and possibly mild aching on the day of treatment. These usually settle within a day or two.
- Avoid rubbing your eyes. Use any prescribed eye drops exactly as directed by your doctor.
- Wear sunglasses outdoors to protect dilated pupils from bright light.
- Avoid strenuous physical activity for a few days, especially if treatment was done for a retinal tear or early detachment.
- Do not swim or use a hot tub until your doctor clears you, to reduce any risk of eye infection.
- Attend your scheduled follow-up appointments. The first check is often within one to four weeks, and your doctor will decide how many sessions you need overall.
- Report any sudden increase in floaters (spots or threads drifting in your vision), flashes of light, or a shadow appearing in your vision immediately, as these can signal a new tear or detachment.
- If you have diabetes, keeping blood sugar and blood pressure well controlled helps the treated areas heal and reduces the chance of new abnormal vessel growth.
- Long-term monitoring with OCT or retinal photographs is usually recommended every few months, depending on the underlying condition.
Cost & What Determines It
The price of retinal laser therapy varies widely depending on what is being treated, where treatment takes place, and how many sessions are needed.
- Condition complexity: a single small retinal tear may require one brief session, while extensive diabetic retinopathy affecting both eyes may need several rounds of treatment over months.
- Type of laser system: different laser platforms (for example, pattern-scanning lasers versus traditional single-spot systems) carry different equipment costs that hospitals pass on.
- Hospital class and country: a private ophthalmology centre in a major city charges differently from a general hospital in a smaller town, and prices differ considerably between countries.
- Specialist fees: the ophthalmologist's fee varies with experience, subspecialty training in retinal disease, and the clinical setting.
- Diagnostic tests on the same visit: OCT scans, fluorescein angiography, and fundus photography are often billed separately from the laser procedure itself.
- Number of sessions: your doctor may schedule two or three sessions before reassessing, which multiplies the base cost.
- Medications: post-procedure eye drops or, in some cases, injections into the eye given alongside laser treatment add to the total.
- Anaesthesia: most retinal laser is done with drops only, but in some cases involving children or very anxious patients, sedation may be used and billed separately.
A hospital package for retinal laser therapy typically covers the laser session itself, the specialist consultation on the day, and basic follow-up within a set period. Diagnostic scans such as OCT or angiography, additional medications, repeat sessions beyond the package limit, and any overnight stay if complications arise are usually charged separately.
BPJS Kesehatan and most Indonesian private insurance policies do not cover medical treatment received abroad, so patients travelling overseas for this procedure generally pay out of pocket or rely on international private health insurance with overseas cover. Before booking travel, ask the hospital for a written cost estimate that lists every expected item individually. An itemised quote protects you from unexpected charges and makes it easier to compare options across clinics or countries.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many sessions of retinal laser therapy will I need?
Most people need between one and three sessions, though your doctor will decide based on how much of the retina is affected. Conditions like diabetic retinopathy or retinal tears may need follow-up sessions spaced weeks apart to confirm the treatment has held. Your eye doctor will review your retina after each session before recommending the next step.
Does retinal laser therapy hurt?
Most patients feel a brief stinging or pressure sensation with each laser pulse, but the procedure is not usually described as severely painful. Numbing eye drops are applied before the session to reduce discomfort. Some people notice a mild ache or sensitivity to light for a day or two afterward.
How soon will I notice results after retinal laser therapy?
The laser works by sealing leaking blood vessels or securing a torn area of the retina, and the full effect builds over several weeks rather than appearing immediately. Your vision may actually seem slightly blurry for a few days right after treatment while the eye settles. The goal is usually to stop further damage rather than to restore lost vision, so improvement looks different for each person.
How much does retinal laser therapy cost?
The cost depends on several factors specific to your case, including how many sessions are needed, whether one or both eyes are being treated, and the type and severity of the retinal condition. Hospital class and the technology used for your particular treatment also affect the final figure. Requesting a written estimate from the hospital after your diagnosis is the most reliable way to understand what you will pay.
This page is general information, not a substitute for medical advice. Every case is different. Your doctor decides what is right for you.
