Visible manifestations of diabetic retinopathy

Much of the blindness associated with diabetes can be prevented if retinopathy is detected and treated early enough – that is, before the patient experiences visual symptoms. Changes that might be seen when examining the fundus of a patient with diabetes who is not yet experiencing any loss of vision include red dots, red blots, hard exudates and cotton wool spots (Figure). These are indicators of the progression of diabetic retinopathy.