In a rat model of IOP elevation, diabetes was observed to be neuroprotective against acute RGC loss.27 Additionally epidemiological studies have proposed that the early stages of diabetes may be neuroprotective against glaucoma.28, 29 It is not yet clear if VEGF-A is linked to this protection; however, our evidence in disease models suggests that removing tissue sources of this molecule may be deleterious. The gene discussed is VEGFA; the disease is diabetes mellitus.