Methanol-Induced Blindness:A Case Report.

Abstract

A case of irreversible blindness in a young adult following methanol ingestion is reported. Forty-eight hours after drinking an unspecified quantity of alcoholic beverage the 21 year old male student experienced sudden visual loss.When seen in our hospital 2 days later each eye of the patient had visual acuity if No Light Perception; dilated, fixed pupils; tortuous retinal veins, A-V nipping, retinal and optic disc oedema. A diagnosis of bilateral optic neuropathy secondary to drug toxicitywasmade. Treatment could not reverse the blindness.Blindness in this patient is avoidable. This report should alert both clinicans and the public about this unnecessary cause of ocular morbidity.

Niger Med J. Vol. 49, No. 1, Jan. – Mar., 2008: 20 – 21.

Keywords:methanol, blindness.