Methanol causes blindness by damaging following pa of the eye?
Correct Answer: Nerve cells
Description: The most common toxic cause of blindness is methanol (methyl alcohol). Formic acid is the metabolite responsible for toxicity and the metabolic acidosis that occurs with methanol poisoning. Formic acid enter the brain and ocular tissues causing central nervous system depression as well as retinal and optic nerve injury. Loss of vision may be complete and sudden within a few hours after drinking methanol or may occasionally be noted about 3 days after exposure. Pupillary reflexes are sluggish. Ophthalmoscopic examination shows swelling and hyperemia of the optic nerve head, distention of the veins, and peripapillary edema of the retina. Acute methanol poisoning causes nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Ref: Smith J.C., Quan D. (2011). Chapter 179. Alcohols. In J.E. Tintinalli, J.S. Stapczynski, D.M. Cline, O.J. Ma, R.K. Cydulka, G.D. Meckler (Eds), Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide, 7e.
Category:
Ophthalmology
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