Toxic Optic Neuropathy - Methanol Poisoning

A 34-year-old male presents to the emergency department 18 hours after consuming illicit country liquor at a village festival. He reports severe headache, abdominal pain, vomiting, and progressive bilateral vision loss over 6 hours, now perceiving only hand movements. Arterial blood gas shows severe high anion gap metabolic acidosis (pH 7.05, HCO₃⁻ 6 mEq/L). Serum methanol is 85 mg/dL with markedly elevated formate at 15 mmol/L. Fundoscopy reveals the findings shown in the diagram. The structure marked **A** (hyperemic edematous optic disc with blurred margins) represents acute optic nerve injury secondary to methanol poisoning. Which of the following best explains the mechanism of optic nerve injury in this patient?