Evaluate the collective function of references cited together in a given text segment.
Classify their combined role into one of the following categories: 'method', 'background', or 'result'.

Text:Accumulating studies elucidated that intraocular angiogenic diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity were also mediated at least in part through VEGF activity [1, 16].
Category: