The microvasculature of the retina has been found to be abnormal in diabetic patients, which suggests that inhibiting the formation of microvessels seems to be an appropriate treatment strategy for DR.16 Moreover, p53 was found to be overexpressed in DR and to promote angiogenesis.19 Ghahremani et  al showed that p53 promotes the expression of VEGF and angiogenesis under hypoxic conditions.20 In addition, Sundaram et  al reported that p53 could promote the formation of tumour angiogenesis by promoting the expression of miR‐194.21 This evidence concerns the gene VEGFA and neoplasm.