title: Subthreshold diode micropulse laser photocoagulation (SDM) as invisible retinal phototherapy for diabetic macular edema: a review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present the state-of-the-art of subthreshold diode laser micropulse photocoagulation (SDM) as invisible retinal phototherapy for diabetic macular edema (DME).
  
  
  METHODS
  To review the role and evolution of retinal laser treatment for DME.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thermal laser retinal photocoagulation has been the cornerstone of treatment for diabetic macular edema for over four decades. Throughout, laser induced retinal damage produced by conventional photocoagulation has been universally accepted as necessary to produce a therapeutic benefit, despite the inherent risks, adverse effects and limitations of thermally destructive treatment. Recently, SDM, performed as invisible retinal phototherapy for DME, has been found to be effective in the absence of any retinal damage or adverse effect, fundamentally altering our understanding of laser treatment for retinal disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The discovery of clinically effective and harmless SDM treatment for DME offers exciting new information that will improve our understanding of laser treatment for retinal disease, expand treatment indications, and improve patient outcomes.
authors.affiliation: jkluttrull@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jeffrey K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Luttrull
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dorin
mesh_terms: D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D012160:Retina / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome