A degenerative condition, DR initially presents as non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) before progressing to proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), with the latter being characterized by neovascularization (NV), a process driven by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and linked to DR-related vision loss [3]. The gene discussed is VEGFA; the disease is proliferative diabetic retinopathy.