AIM:To evaluate the therapeutic effect of YAG laser for diabetic retinopathy(DR).METHODS:A total of 142 cases 247 eyes with DR were treated with photocoagulation by YAG 532nm laser.RESULTS:Visual acuity was improved in 198 eyes after the treatment of panretinal photocoagulation,and neovascularization disappeared completely or partially,favorable response rate was 80.2%.The effective rate of preproliferative diabetic retinopathy(PPDR)and early proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR)was totally 92.0%,showing significantly higher favorable response rate than that of the eyes with high-risk PDR(41.7%).CONCLUSION:YAG 532nm laser is effective for DR,and better clinical outcome can be expected from early intervention.