A patient with a history of hypertension and diabetes presents with visual symptoms. What is the most likely cause for her visual changes?

The most likely cause for the visual changes in a patient with a history of hypertension and diabetes is diabetic retinopathy. This condition is a common diabetic complication that affects the eyes and can lead to vision impairment. Due to prolonged high blood sugar levels and hypertension, the blood vessels in the retina become damaged, leading to progressive vision issues including blurred vision, floaters, and even potential blindness if left untreated.

In diabetic retinopathy, specific changes occur in the retinal vasculature, such as microaneurysms, hemorrhages, and exudates, which contribute to the visual symptoms. Given the patient's existing conditions of hypertension and diabetes, which both have strong associations with the onset and progression of this form of retinal damage, diabetic retinopathy is a logical consideration in this clinical scenario.

Other conditions like retinal detachment, cataracts, and glaucoma can also cause visual changes but are less directly linked to the patient's history of diabetes and hypertension compared to diabetic retinopathy. Retinal detachment could be acute and may not have a direct link to the chronic conditions in this patient. Cataracts, while prevalent in the general population and can be associated with diabetes, typically cause gradual changes over time rather than the acute visual disturbances seen