Nd:YAG Laser Applications in Retinal Hemorrhage Management
Summary
Neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (Nd:YAG) laser techniques have emerged as minimally invasive, outpatient procedures for the treatment of preretinal haemorrhage. In retinal haemorrhage, particularly premacular subhyaloid and sub-internal limiting membrane bleeds, Nd:YAG laser hyaloidotomy or membranotomy enables rapid evacuation of trapped blood into the vitreous cavity. This approach restores macular transparency and expedites visual recovery within days, while avoiding the risks and costs associated with pars plana vitrectomy. Treatment parameters are tailored to haemorrhage depth, size and duration: lower energy settings are used in fresh bleeds to perforate the posterior hyaloid face or internal limiting membrane, whereas delayed presentations may require higher energies or alternative membrane targeting. Optical coherence tomography assists in delineating the haemorrhage plane and monitoring membrane apposition. Although generally safe, Nd:YAG laser procedures carry potential complications including macular hole formation, epiretinal membrane development and unsealed membrane remnants. Their global uptake reflects the balance between prompt visual rehabilitation and procedural simplicity, making Nd:YAG laser an essential tool in contemporary retinal haemorrhage management.
Research from Nature Portfolio
No recent Nature Portfolio content available.
Nd:YAG Laser Applications in Retinal Hemorrhage Management publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in nd:yag laser applications in retinal hemorrhage management across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Nd:YAG laser: Neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet laser emitting focused infrared pulses to create precise photodisruptive openings in ocular tissues.
Premacular subhyaloid haemorrhage: Accumulation of blood between the posterior hyaloid face and the internal limiting membrane over the macular region, causing sudden vision loss.
Posterior hyaloid membrane: The cortical vitreous surface adjacent to the retina, which can be perforated to allow haemorrhage drainage into the vitreous cavity.
Hyaloidotomy (membranotomy): Laser procedure that creates an aperture in the posterior hyaloid or internal limiting membrane to facilitate blood evacuation from the macular area.
Optical coherence tomography (OCT): Non-invasive imaging technique providing high-resolution, cross-sectional views of retinal structures to guide treatment planning and monitor haemorrhage resolution.
References
- Nd:YAG laser hyaloidotomy in the management of Premacular Subhyaloid Hemorrhage. BMC Ophthalmology (2016).
- Role of Neodymium Double Frequency Laser Posterior Hyaloidotomy in Delayed Presentation of Sub-hyaloid Haemorrhage. Cureus (2022).
- Evaluation of a new Q-switched Nd:YAG laser on premacular hemorrhage. BMC Ophthalmology (2023).
Turn complex research questions into confident strategic decisions
When you're under pressure to set direction, justify investment, or understand your competitive position, you need more than raw data — you need trusted insights you can act on.
Benchmark your performance against global peers using robust, methodologically sound analysis.
Combine quantitative metrics with qualitative expert insight to uncover strengths, gaps and emerging opportunities.
Gain tailored, decision-ready recommendations aligned to your strategic priorities.
Talk to us to learn more about our data dashboards and bespoke strategy reports.
Grow research skills, confidence and careers with training built for every stage of the research lifecycle.
Developed with Nature Portfolio journal Editors and internationally renowned experts. Discover three ways to learn:
Self-paced, online courses in convenient bite-sized units, covering key skills across scientific writing, publishing, grant writing, data analysis, and more.
Expert trainer-led workshops with hands-on exercises and real-time feedback across core research skills, delivered via interactive group sessions.
Editor-led workshops combining core principles in writing and publishing, personalised 1:1 feedback from Nature Portfolio Editors and hands-on exercises.
Explore course catalogues and workshop agendas, enquire about the options or request institutional pricing.