A single cotton wool spot in one eye can be the earliest ophthalmoscopic finding in diabetic or hypertensive retinopathy. In a series of patients who had cotton-wool spots and no known medical history, diastolic blood pressure equal to or greater than 90 mmHg was detected in 50% of patients, and an elevated blood sugar was found in 20% of patients. Cotton wool spots (CWS) are fluffy white or yellow spots that can appear on the retina. While the spots themselves don't typically cause problems, they often indicate an underlying condition. A CWS can be a cause for concern in an otherwise healthy individual. What causes cotton wool spots?
Cotton wool spots, causes, symptoms, diagnosis & treatment
Cotton wool spots are opaque fluffy white patches on the retina of the eye that are considered an abnormal finding during a funduscopic exam (also called an ophthalmoscopic exam). [1] Cotton wool spots are typically a sign of another disease state, most common of which is diabetic retinopathy. [2] Retinal cotton-wool spots. In contrast to a vascular occlusion of the precapillary arterial flow, mechanical distortion or traumatic laceration of the nerve fiber layer can also result in the interruption of axoplasmic flow and the development of a cotton-wool spot. One of these potential retinal findings is the cotton wool spot (CWS). A CWS appears as a white and fluffy superficial lesion 0.1mm to 1.0mm in diameter that obscures the underlying retinal detail. 1,2 This small but important finding can be a marker for potentially life-threatening conditions, making it of great clinical utility. 1. "Cotton wool" spots When blood clots prevent nutrients from getting to the retina, the tissue in the retina begins to swell and die. If the doctor examines your eye closely using optical coherence tomography, this area looks white and fluffy like cotton wool (shown in the image above). These spots do not typically affect a person's vision. 2.
Cotton Wool Spots Causes and Symptoms
Cotton-wool spots (CWSs) are retinal lesions, most commonly seen as manifestations of diabetes mellitus and systemic hypertension. They are also associated with a number of other etiologies including ischemic, embolic, connective tissue, neoplastic, and infectious, 1, 2 but occasionally no underlying cause can be identified. 2 Key Points Manifestations of diabetic retinopathy include microaneurysms, intraretinal hemorrhage, exudates, macular edema, macular ischemia, neovascularization, vitreous hemorrhage, and traction retinal detachment. Symptoms may not develop until late in the disease. 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 ). Cotton Wool Spots : Ophthalmoscopic Abnormalities : The Eyes Have It Cotton Wool Spots What is it? How does it appear? What else looks like it? What to do? What will happen?
Cotton Wool Spots disease entity and management
A cotton-wool spot is the name given to a small white spot in the retina that resembles cotton wool (raw cotton). The retina in your eye is like the film inside a camera. The retina "takes the picture" of objects you look at and sends the message to the brain. The retina is a living tissue, which requires blood supplied by tiny vessels. Cotton-wool spots Retinal vasculitis may result in micro-infarcts of the retinal nerve fiber layer that manifests as diffuse, fluffy, cotton-wool like spots in the superficial retinal surface. [1] [12] Systemic vasculitidis such as systemic lupus erythematosus, [36] polyarteritis nodosa, [37] Churg-Strauss syndrome [38] can be associated with.
Cotton-wool spots (CWSs) are common retinal manifestations of many diseases including diabetes mellitus, systemic hypertension, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Clinically they appear as whitish, fluffy patches on the retina and eventually fade with time. In this study, spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) with mapping. Introduction Hypertension is a risk factor for systemic conditions that can lead to target-organ damage. Specifically, hypertension may lead to multiple adverse effects to the eye that can inevitably cause cause retinopathy, optic neuropathy, and choroidopathy.
Cotton wool spots. COMS Grading Scheme
Cotton wool spots are believed to occur secondary to ischemia from retinal arteriole obstruction 4. Cotton wool spots is thought to represent nerve fiber layer infarct and pre-capillary arteriolar occlusion. However, factors responsible for focal interruption of axoplasmic flow in the retinal nerve fiber layer may result in similar intra-axonal. Chris A. Knobbe, MD Eye strokes occur when blockages (occlusions) occur in arteries or veins in the retina, causing vision loss. The severity of vision loss depends on the extent and location of the occlusion (s) and loss of blood flow.
