An ophthalmoscopic view of the retina showing advanced signs of diabetic retinopathy including two pale<unk> .<unk>  are an abnormal finding on funduscopic exam of the retina of the eye. They appear as fluffy white patches on the retina. They are caused by damage to nerve fibers and are a result of accumulations of axoplasmic material within the nerve fiber layer. There is reduced axonal transport (and hence backlog and accumulation of intracellular products) within the nerves because of the ischemia. This then causes the nerve fibers to be damaged by swelling in the surface layer of the retina. A 1981 analysis concluded that "in most instances,<unk>  do not represent the whole area of ischaemic inner retina but merely reflect the obstruction of axoplasmic flow in axons crossing into much larger ischaemic areas". Associated findings include microvascular infarcts and hemorrhages. The appearance of<unk>  may decrease over time. Abundant<unk>  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. More rarely, HIV and Purtscher's retinopathy can also lead to the appearance of<unk> . Another condition in which<unk>  are found is central retinal vein occlusion.
Cotton wool spots
Brushfield spots
Elschnig spots
Bier spots
Forchheimer spots
Fordyce spots
Koplik's spots
Mongolian spot