VEGFA and ischemia: The final outcome of ischemia would be the upregulation of VEGF, neovascularization, and PDR.[26,27] Although the retinal vascular response to a hyperoxic state differs in patients with diabetes compared to healthy individuals,[28] hyperoxia may favorably affect DMI by increasing the amount of oxygen dissolved in the plasma and, thereby, increasing the oxygen gradient between the blood and the retina to transfer more oxygen to the tissue.