The EGCG treatment exhibited protective effects on HRECs under high glucose conditions. The protective mechanisms involved inhibition of apoptosis, modulation of the cell cycle distribution, and suppression of the MAPK/ERK-VEGF pathway. Notably, the study indicates a significant decrease in the expression of VEGF, which is a crucial growth factor associated with diabetic retinopathy (DR) progression. This evidence concerns the gene VEGFA and diabetic retinopathy.