Atenolol Side Effects on the Eyes

Atenolol is a prescription drug used for its beneficial effect on your heart and blood health. Unfortunately, it can also have an adverse effect on your eyes. Although it does not occur in all patients, Atenolol can cause dryness, irritation and blurred vision in the eyes. You should discuss these side effects with your health care provider so that he can prevent those side effects from becoming serious.

Atenolol

• Atenolol is a brand of the drug tenormin, a member of the group of drugs called beta-blockers. Atenolol is used to treated chest pains, high blood pressure and heart attacks. It is usually prescribed in tablet form and should be taken with a full glass of water at the same time each day. It is not recommended for pregnant women, people with thyroid disorders or those suffering from circulation problems.

Your Eyes

• Vision is an essential factor in how we navigate the world around us. Your eyes do this by focusing light through your pupils and onto your retina. The retina is tissue on the inner lining of the eye that is sensitive to light. When light hits it, a set of chemical and electrical impulses travel through the optical nerve to the brain. In the brain, these impulses are translated into a visual picture.

Effects of Atenolol on Your Eyes

• Atenolol is taken for heart and blood conditions, but it can affect your eyes in negative ways. Taking this drug can cause dry eyes or irritated eyes. You may also suffer from blurred vision as a result of Atenolol usage. It can also cause hallucinations in some people, but although hallucinations are false visions, they have more to do with your brain function than your eyes.

Complications

• Compared wth conditions that you are taking the Atenolol for, dry eyes is much less serious. However, dry, irritated eyes can lead to further eye complications, such as inflammation, infection or even cornea scarring. Blurry eyesight can also be a problem because impaired eyesight means that you may have trouble driving, reading or even working. In addition, if you already have eye conditions like glaucoma or cataracts, eye side effects from Atenolol can make those conditions even worse.

Treatment and Prevention

• If you experience any side effects as a result of Atenolol usage, you should speak with your health care provider. He can advise you further. If the side effects are minor, he may suggest over the counter eye drops or eye exercises to ease them. In some cases, the dosage of your prescription may be adjusted. For those who are experiencing severe eye side effects or already have serious eye conditions, your health care provider may remove you from Atenolol drug therapy and choose another treatment for you. It really all depends on what would be best for your overall health. Always follow your health care provider's instructions when taking prescription medication.