To investigate whether patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) (Fig. 1A) show altered levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and its soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R), vitreous humor and plasma samples from 17 PDR patients were compared to 17 patients with macular pucker (MP) and 19 patients with macular hole (MH), both serving as control groups (Fig. 1B) (Table 1). The gene discussed is IL6R; the disease is macular holes.