Current treatments for diabetic retinopathy(DR)are based on laser photocoagulation and intravitreal injections of corticosteroids or anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)agents.These treatments are applicable only at advanced stages of the disease.In addition,they are expensive,require a vitreoretinal specialist and are associated with significant adverse ef- Current treatments for diabetic retinopathy (DR) are based on laser photocoagulation and intravitreal injections of corticosteroids or anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents. These treatments are applicable only at advanced stages of the disease. In addition, they are expensive, require a vitreoretinal specialist and are associated with significant adverse ef-