The idea to stratify the patients into two groups based on glycemic control was based on the fact that HbA1c levels impact the presence of diabetic retinopathy.36 The accepted international standard for the diagnosis cutoff point has been determined to be >6.5%(ref. 36) and >7% for DM patients.37 HbA1c levels can impact a number of molecular and cellular processes that may influence retinopathy development and severity, including microvasculature complication, ischemia, increased levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and inflammation.6, 36. Here, VEGFA is linked to diabetes mellitus.