Which finding is likely seen in a clinical examination of a patient with diabetic retinopathy?

The presence of cotton wool spots is a characteristic finding in diabetic retinopathy. These spots are soft, fluffy white patches located on the retina and are caused by localized retinal ischemia, which occurs due to the metabolic and vascular changes associated with diabetes. They represent areas of nerve fiber layer infarction and are often seen when the disease progresses, indicating retinal damage due to poor blood supply.

In contrast, drusen bodies are associated with age-related macular degeneration rather than diabetic retinopathy. Exudative lesions typically refer to changes associated with conditions like wet age-related macular degeneration or other retinal vascular diseases that lead to fluid leakage. Retinal tears are not directly indicative of diabetic retinopathy; instead, they may occur due to various other ocular conditions, such as retinal detachment or degeneration, rather than the specific vascular changes seen in diabetic retinopathy.