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Symptoms
Cotton wool spots are asymptomatic. Symptoms may exist relating to the underlying cause, or to any ocular complications of this underlying cause.
Signs
Cotton wool spots appear on fundoscopy as white, fluffy lesions with hazy or feathered edges in the superficial retina. Underlying retinal vessels may be obscured.
Significance
Cotton wool spots indicate significant retinal ischaemia or other disorder. The underling cause requires identification and management.
Differential diagnosis
See the table below.
See also
Choroidal neovascularisation, Diabetic retinopathy, Hypertensive retinopathy, Central retinal artery occlusion, Central retinal vein occlusion, Ocular ischaemic syndrome (Ophthalmic artery hypoperfusion, Carotid occlusive disease), Lymphoma, Systemic lupus erythematosis, Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) Retinopathy, Cytomegalovirus retinitis, Radiation retinopathy.
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