Objective To investigate the correlation between number of retinal hyperreflective foci (HF) and aqueous humor inflammatory cytokines levels in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME). Methods A total of 25 DME patients (34 eyes) were selected as the research subjects. The levels of aqueous humor inflammatory cytokines with respect to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor β1 (TGF⁃β1), interleukin (IL)⁃6, IL⁃17A, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP1), intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM) were detected in patients. Central macular thickness (CMT), total macular volume (TMV), and central macular volume (CMV) were measured by employing the optical coherence tomography, and number of HF was calculated. The Pearson or Spearman correlation analysis method was used to analyze the correlation of HF number, CMT, TMV, CMV with aqueous humor inflammatory cytokines levels in DME patients. Results HF number positively correlated with aqueous humor IL⁃6, MCP1, and ICAM levels, and TMV positively correlated with aqueous humor TGF⁃β1, MCP1, and ICAM levels (P<0.05). Conclusion HF number correlates with aqueous humor IL⁃6, MCP1, and ICAM levels in DME patients, and HF may be regarded as imaging marker of intraocular inflammations.