In ischemic and hypoxic retinas, neurons are functionally and morphologically perturbed3,4, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression results in vascular hyperpermeability and angiogenesis in diabetic macular edema (DME) and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), respectively5,6. The gene discussed is VEGFA; the disease is proliferative diabetic retinopathy.