VEGFA and diabetic macular edema: Of patients with DR, only 10 to 15% may have vision-threatening DR (severe non-proliferative DR, proliferative DR, diabetic macular edema (DME)) that requires intensive specialist eye care, including closer follow-up intervals (e.g., 4–6 months) or treatment such as intraocular injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), laser therapy or surgery [7, 8].