What are infarcted nerve fibers in the eyes called?

Infarcted nerve fibers in the eyes are identified as cotton wool patches. These patches appear as fluffy white or yellowish-white spots on the retina and are indicative of localized ischemia or infarction of nerve fibers. They represent areas where axoplasmic material has accumulated due to the interruption of the blood supply, leading to the swelling of the nerve fibers. Cotton wool patches are often associated with conditions such as diabetic retinopathy or hypertension, which compromise the blood supply to the retina.

The other terms provided in the choices refer to different retinal phenomena: drusen are yellowish-white deposits that are often associated with age-related macular degeneration; flecks usually refer to small, hard, yellow spots and may be associated with retinal conditions; and exudates are a broader term that can refer to fluids leaking into the retina, often seen in conditions like diabetic retinopathy, but they are not specifically linked to infarcted nerve fibers. Thus, cotton wool patches specifically denote the presence of infarcted nerve fibers.