Following our whole transcriptome analysis, we focused on VEGFA gene variants and genotyped non-transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia patients, β-thalassemia major patients, and healthy (non-thalassemic) individuals as well as a cohort of compound heterozygous SCD/β-thalassemia patients receiving HU as HbF augmenting therapy. Here, VEGFA is linked to Schnyder corneal dystrophy.