Clinical values of systemic inflammatory indices in diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy contributes to a substantial proportion of vision loss, which can be mitigated through timely and accurate diagnosis and appropriate intervention. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and systemic immune inflammation index (SII) represent innovative markers of inflammation that are both accessible and straightforward for assessing inflammatory responses. This investigation reviews the extant literature concerning the variations of these inflammatory markers in diabetic retinopathy and their potential prognostic and diagnostic significance in complications related to diabetic retinopathy. Investigations relevant to the alterations in systemic inflammatory indices in diabetic retinopathy published before 24 August 2025 were searched in Google Scholar and PubMed databases. The findings indicated a robust correlation between elevated systemic inflammatory indices and the incidence, severity, and complications associated with diabetic retinopathy. Nonetheless, there exists a degree of controversy and a lack of conclusive data regarding the clinical relevance of these inflammatory markers in relation to diabetic retinopathy and its associated complications. Additional research is essential to explore the potential utilisation of these indices in the prognosis and diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy.