Methyl alcohol poisoning III. Ocular toxicity
M. S. Hayreh, S. S. Hayreh, G. L. Baumbach, P. Cancilla, G. Martin-Amat, T. R. Tephly, K. E. McMartin and A. B. Makar
The ocular toxicity of methyl alcohol has been investigated in six rhesus
monkeys. All the animals developed fundus changes within 43 to 171 hours
after its ingestion. The only fundus lesion seen was optic disc edema and
associated changes, usually of a marked degree. Fluorescein fundus
angiography confirmed the findings. The retinal and choroidal circulations,
including the retinal capillary bed, were normal. Ophthalmoscopically and
angiographically, optic disc edema in methyl alcohol poisoning was
indistinguishable from that seen in raised intracranial pressure, except
that no increased intracranial pressure was observed. It is postulated that
optic disc edema in methyl alcohol poisoning is due to an axoplasmic flow
stasis.
