Most patients who suffer from AMD or diabetic retinopathy have already a certain degree of inflammation even without any edemas.70,71 Edemas further increase the inflammatory response as the immune system participates in removing excess fluid that has leaked into the neuronal tissue.70,71 Injecting anti-VEGF drugs in such patients is likely to further exacerbate the inflammatory response due to changes in VCAM1 and ICAM1 expression. The gene discussed is VCAM1; the disease is age-related macular degeneration.