Abstract: Micropulse laser photocoagulation is a laser photocoagulation paradigm which can minimize retinal laser injury so as to selectively treat certain retinal layers by delivering the laser energy with a train of repetitive extremely short pulses within an emission instead of one conventional continuous longer pulse. Studies have shown that micropulse laser photocoagulation has the same effect on maintaining visual acuity as conventional laser photocoagulation in the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME). High density / low intensity micropulse laser photocoagulation can be effective for the DME treatment without any detectable laser damage to the neuroretina. The rationale of micropulse laser photocoagulation for DME treatment may be some specific light-induced effects of the laser on the neuroretina, resulting in series changes of the bioactive factors expression. There are disagreements in clinical application of micropulse laser photocoagulation: whether the power needs to be titrated and whether the fovea can be covered during the treatment. It should be suggested to titrate the laser power in order to achieve idea treatment, and it should not be overemphasized to cover the fovea during treatment in order to avoid disastrous consequences resulted by incorrect power titration. (Ophthalmol CHN, 2021, 30: 1-4)

Key words: diabetic macular edema, micropulselaser, photocoagulation