I have Type 1 diabetes for close to 30 years, and have been treated for diabetic retinothopy for at least 10 years. During this time I have had numerous laser treatments for both of my eyes, and I know without them there would have been a good chance that I would probably be blind today. I did have blood clots, and the doctor did not wait for them to clear before he went ahead with the treatments. I went back on two week intervals. As far as the pain, I didn't experience any pain at all. My biggest problem was finding a parking space. Make sure you go with your husband, so he doesn't have to drive afterwards. Since I started with laser treatment, I switched to an insulin pump, and my blood sugars are in much better control. Because of this, I have not had to have laser treatments in over 3 years. Good luck, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask.