ABO Ophthalmology Complete Practice Exam 2026

Cotton wool spots are typically seen in the retina. These white, fluffy lesions represent localized areas of retinal edema, caused by the accumulation of axoplasmic material resulting from the ischemia of nerve fiber layer cells. They are commonly associated with a variety of conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and certain inflammatory diseases. The presence of cotton wool spots is an important clinical finding, often indicating underlying systemic conditions that may require further evaluation and management.

The cornea, lens, and iris are not the sites where these spots occur, as they do not contain the nerve fiber layers that give rise to the development of cotton wool spots. Thus, the retina is the correct answer, as it is the location where these characteristic findings are observed during a fundoscopic exam.