Strikingly, activities of soluble adenylate kinase, adenosine deaminase, ecto-5′-nucleotidase/CD73, and alkaline phosphatase, as well as intravitreal concentrations of ATP and ADP, were concurrently upregulated in patients suffering from diabetic retinopathy (DR) with non-clearing vitreous hemorrhage (VH), when compared to DR eyes without VH and control eyes operated due to macular hole or pucker. Here, NT5E is linked to diabetic retinopathy.