Ophthalmologist Karina Kozina has warned Russians that drinking low-quality alcohol can cause irreversible vision loss due to toxic methanol contained in surrogate drinks. Speaking to Gazeta.Ru, Kozina said the warning applies primarily to homemade alcohol and counterfeit products purchased secondhand or from random sellers.
In such beverages, deadly methanol can replace ethyl alcohol while remaining practically indistinguishable from regular alcohol in taste, smell, and appearance. Inside the human body, methanol converts into formic acid, which attacks the optic nerve and can result in total blindness.
Kozina emphasized that anyone who experiences blurry vision or faded colors after a feast must act immediately, as methanol poisoning is manifesting and every hour determines whether a person will keep their sight.
Symptoms and risks of methanol poisoning
The first symptoms of surrogate alcohol poisoning may appear only 12 to 24 hours after consumption and initially resemble an ordinary hangover. However, Kozina recommended seeking immediate medical assistance if fog appears before the eyes, color perception changes, or the visual field narrows, noting that restoring a destroyed optic nerve is impossible.
Separately, psychologist James McKillop previously warned that alcohol damages the structure of the brain and impairs its functions. McKillop noted that those neurological changes are temporary and recover after an individual gives up alcohol.
