Dry eyes and bisoprolol

[Skiffrower]

Has anyone else had problems with dry eyes when taking bisoprolol? Initially after the op I just thought it was post op issues ( you are warned about it) but it's persisted. Since I been taking it my eyes are gummy rather than moist and can feel sandy . I've been using over the counter dry eye drops a lot.

I've only just gone and looked at the leaflet in the bisoprolol pack to check . It's a 1/1000 side effect apparently and I've only just put the 2 together probably because just been referred for cataract surgery.

What have people done to alleviate it,?

[BeKind28-]

Hello

I suffered with dry eyes before been put on Bisoprolol so it is hard for me to tell if they have made it any worse

I am allergic to any eye drops with additives in them and if I use them it makes them even worse so I use Viscotears which are free from additives you can buy them but are a bit expensive but I get them prescribed as I have this condition so it does not cost me

I have to use them every night and sometimes in a Morning to

I know it is really unpleasant so I hope you manage to get it sorted

Let us know how you get on x

[Blackknight57 in reply to BeKind28-]

I also had dry eye for years. I use the over counter spray when needed. I hate drops in my eyes always did.

[BeKind28- in reply to Blackknight57]

Hello

I am glad you have found something that helps yours x

[Skiffrower in reply to BeKind28-]

An update. Had pre op appt prior to cataract surgery on Tuesday. I mentioned the dry eyes and the optician said he thought that dry eyes was a very common side effect of Bisoprolol and gave me drops to use 4 x pd .

[BeKind28- in reply to Skiffrower]

Hello

Glad you got to see the optician and they have given you some drops x

[Survivor1952]

Yes, diagnosed by my optician in January 24. Tried to persist with Bisoprolol but it got so bad by July that I couldn’t read a book or use my computer/tablet as my eyes would start streaming and really hurt.

Spoke to GP practice, they suggested stopping Bisoprolol for a week, eyes improved very rapidly, so they switched me to Carvedilol, no problems with dry eye now.

[Chinkoflight in reply to Survivor1952]

Hi Survivor1952, just read your post and I'm intrigued. Are streaming eyes the symptoms for 'dry eyes'. ? I have been googling streaming eyes over the past week as this phenomenon happens always when I go out and especially if windy. I looked for the symptoms for all my meds , bisoprolol (1.25), Edoxaban, atorvastatin but couldn't see streaming eyes as a symptom. However, the phenomena only started after the bisoprolol last summer. It can be embarrassing as it's a full on cry, and of course the way the body gets rid of excess tears is also through the nasal passages . Consequently I seem like someone who has hayfever. But I don't get dry eyes per se and no other symptoms. I wear contacts, daily change, normally when going out, not every day but I lost one the other day with the tears! Does any of this resonate with your symptoms or experience?

Kind regards

[Skiffrower in reply to Chinkoflight]

No my symptoms are really gummy eyes and feels a bit sandy. Optician for cataract pre op thinks the dry eyes are v common side effect for bisoprolol. Sorry can't help , seems between the 2 of us we have ' normal ' tears. 😉

[Chinkoflight in reply to Skiffrower]

Thanks

[Survivor1952 in reply to Chinkoflight]

My Bisoprolol leaflet said it was a rare side effect, less than 1 in 1000.

Dry eye is an oxymoron of a description, symptoms are usually scratchy, stingy or watery eyes.

My symptoms were streaming, stinging eyes. It wasn’t too bad at first but got a lot worse over 6 months or so. My eyes became immeasurably worse when using a computer or reading a book. The most I could manage was 5 minutes at a time before resting my eyes for up to half an hour. I was a lot better in the open, I don’t think my PC or book would have enjoyed the rain though

Yes, it was pretty much like full on crying with tears down my cheeks.

I was diagnosed by my optician.

[Chinkoflight in reply to Survivor1952]

Thanks

[Skiffrower in reply to Survivor1952]

The optician disagreed with the leaflet he thinks it's far more common , but under-reported. so I've done a yellow card

[Wonky_heart]

I have extremely dry eyes (the lids stick to my eyes) because I have Sjrogrens. I had to stop Bisoprolol because it made my Raynauds worse. The best thing I've tried for my dry eyes was suggested by my optician, its Hycosan extra. Initially I had to use it every two hours but now it's twice a day and I use an ointment overnight.

[Choccie55]

I’m on Bisoprolol and have dry eyes but I’ve always put it down to menopause. I use an intensive eye drop morning and night and when required throughout the day. Specsavers have different strengths depending on how dry your eyes are. I find it’s worse in winter with central heating etc.

[Skiffrower in reply to Choccie55]

Thanks , my eyes got really bad this week which is what prompted me to make the connection . Finding the intensive eye drops are helping. 🤞

[rehana01]

No.