Results in our study showed that in aqueous humour, the average levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17A, and TNF-α in the 5-year DR group and 10-year DR group were higher than those in the 5-year DM group and 10-year DM group, respectively (all p < 0.05). This evidence concerns the gene IL17A and diabetes mellitus.