This is diabetic retinopathy. Note the extensive hard exudates. The microangiopathy that occurs with diabetes mellitus is associated with edema and retinal exudates that are "soft" microinfarcts or "hard" yellowish waxy exudates which are deposits of plasma proteins and lipids. These hard exudates are more a feature of older persons with type II diabetes mellitus. [Image contributed by Nick Mamalis, MD, University of Utah]

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