The clarity of laser images collected in dark lighting environments will decrease, making it difficult to identify the image content and reducing its utilization value. In this context, in order to improve the visual image effect, a laser image optimization method based on visual image effect in dark lighting environment is studied. This method optimizes laser images from two methods. In the first part, NLM algorithm is used to denoise laser images, solving the problem of "infection" noise in laser images in dark lighting environments; The latter part combines the gamma correction method with the Retinex method, using the former to obtain the required illumination component for the latter and obtain the reflection component. Perform inverse operations on the optimized reflection component and illumination component, and recombine the brightness component to achieve optimal adjustment of laser image illumination in dark lighting environments. Visual image performance testing was conducted on the optimized laser image in a dark lighting environment. The results showed that the peak signal-to-noise ratio and average gradient increased after optimization compared to before. In addition, compared with traditional methods, the peak signal-to-noise ratio and average gradient in the study were relatively larger, with an average of 34.8 dB and 3.6, respectively. This proves the visual image effect of the studied method.