What are soft exudates in diabetic retinopathy?
What are soft exudates in diabetic retinopathy?
A cotton-wool spot, or soft exudate, is a yellow-white lesion in the superficial retina that usually occupies an area less than one fourth that of the optic disc (Fig. 69-19). A cotton-wool spot can occur singly or in conjunction with many others (Fig. 69-20).
What is a soft exudate?
Soft exudates, or CWS, usually have a somewhat fluffy border that is perpendicular to the course of the nerve fibers in the nerve fiber layer, and a fairly abrupt edge that is parallel to the nerve fibers. Also, CWS are more whitish. Hard exudate, or lipid, is yellowish and granular in appearance.
Which algorithm is used in diabetic retinopathy?
Deep learning algorithm predicts diabetic retinopathy progression in individual patients.
How do you classify diabetic retinopathy?
Diabetic retinopathy falls into two main classes: nonproliferative and proliferative. The word “proliferative” refers to whether or not there is neovascularization (abnormal blood vessel growth) in the retinaEarly disease without neovascularization is called nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR).
What causes cotton-wool spots in diabetic retinopathy?
Cotton wool spots are believed to occur secondary to ischemia from retinal arteriole obstruction. It is thought to represent nerve fiber layer infarct and pre-capillary arteriolar occlusion.
What are cotton-wool spots in diabetic retinopathy?
Cotton-wool spots are nerve fiber layer infarctions from occlusion of precapillary arterioles. With the use of fluorescein angiography, there is no capillary perfusion. These are frequently bordered by microaneurysms and vascular hyperpermeability.
What does a cotton wool spot look like?
On ophthalmic fundus exam, cotton wool spots may appear as small, yellow-white (or grayish-white), slightly elevated lesions, which look like clouds with a fimbriate border in the superficial retina. Usually they are less than 1/3 disc areas in diameter, and are commonly found in the posterior pole of the fundus.
Are cotton-wool spots serious?
Disease entity In otherwise healthy patients, the observance of a cotton wool spot (CWS) is not considered normal. A single cotton wool spot in one eye can be the earliest ophthalmoscopic finding in diabetic or hypertensive retinopathy.
Are cotton wool spots serious?
Abundant cotton wool spots are seen in Malignant hypertension. Diabetes and hypertension are the two most common diseases that cause these spots, and the best treatment would be to treat the underlying disease. In diabetes they are one of the hallmarks of pre-proliferative retinopathy.
Where are hard exudates found in diabetic retinopathy?
Diabetic Retinopathy – Features of Diabetes : Hard Exudates. Hard exudates are found principally in the macular region and as the lipids coalesce and extend into the central macula (fovea), vision can be severely compromised.
What are the results of a fundoscopy of the retina?
Occlusion of the vein results in retinal hypoxia, and the resultant endothelial cell damage leads to extravasation of blood. Fundoscopy typically reveals severe tortuosity, engorgement of retinal veins, deep haemorrhages, cotton wool spots and optic disc swelling.
What are some of the features of diabetic retinopathy?
Diabetic Retinopathy – Features of Diabetes : Hard Exudates. Hard exudates are largely made up of extracellular lipid which has leaked from abnormal retinal capillaries, hence there is often associated retinal oedema (which is not visible using direct ophthalmoscopy). The underlying problem is often apparent as the exudates will form a ring…
How are diabetic retinopathy and macular edema treated?
Clinically significant diabetic macular edema is treated with intraocular injection of anti-VEGF drugs (eg, ranibizumab, bevacizumab, aflibercept) and/or with focal laser photocoagulation ( 1 ). The intraocular dexamethasone implant and intravitreal triamcinolone can treat eyes with persistent macular edema.