CXCL8 and macular retinal edema: By W12, there was a strong positive correlation between IL-8 (r = 0.55, P = 0.024) and IL-6 (r = 0.45, P = 0.057) with increasing CST, indicating that higher levels of IL-8 or IL-6 cytokines correlate with increasing macular edema (Figs. 3B, 3C).