While the advent of molecular therapeutics targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has revolutionized the management and visual prognosis for patients with age-related macular degeneration, retinal vein occlusion, diabetic macular edema, and other diseases resulting in retinal vascular leakage or choroidal neovascularization, each injection of these agents carries a small associated risk of endophthalmitis. The gene discussed is VEGFA; the disease is diabetic macular edema.