The present study showed that the aqueous humor levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, IP-10, and VEGF were higher in diabetic patients with macular edema and the levels of these cytokines were closely correlated with the retinal macular thickness, retinal macular volume and the severity of macular edema. The gene discussed is IL1B; the disease is macular retinal edema.