Acute optic neuropathy induced by thinner sniffing: inhalation of mixed organic solvent containing methyl alcohol and methyl acetate

Although methyl alcohol (MAL) is extensively used as an industrial material, cases of optic neuropathy have been rare in the industrial environment. Most reported cases have been of mass epidemics which occurred due to the consumption of beverages containing MAL. There have been a few cases of poisoning from skin absorption in the industrial environment. Cases of visual disturbance due to MAL inhalation have been rare, if any. The authors report here a case of a habitual thinner sniffer who suffered from acute visual disturbance when he used a paint thinner which contained MAL and MAC in addition to toluene. They feel that this case is important as a critical case of optical disturbance induced by a mixed solvent.