Accidental ingestion of wood spirit (methanol) can lead to permanent blindness. Which metabolite is primarily responsible for this specific physiological damage?
Q1. Accidental ingestion of wood spirit (methanol) can lead to permanent blindness. Which metabolite is primarily responsible for this specific physiological damage?
Answer: Formic acid
Explanation: Methanol is metabolized in the liver to formaldehyde and then formic acid, which causes optic nerve damage and eventual blindness.