How is mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) classified?

Mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) is primarily characterized by the presence of one or more microaneurysms. These microaneurysms reflect localized outpouchings of the blood vessel walls that result from the effects of hyperglycemia on the retinal blood vessels. During the early stages of diabetic retinopathy, particularly in mild NPDR, these microaneurysms can be detected during a fundoscopic examination.

The presence of microaneurysms is critical because it serves as an initial marker indicating that some level of retinal vascular damage has occurred due to diabetes, which may progress if not managed appropriately. While other signs such as cotton wool spots or blot hemorrhages may appear in more advanced stages of NPDR, they are not defining factors of mild NPDR.

Complete retinal detachment, on the other hand, is a more severe complication associated with proliferative diabetic retinopathy and is not relevant to the classification of mild NPDR. Hence, identifying microaneurysms is essential for diagnosing mild NPDR and understanding the progression of diabetic eye disease.