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Eye Care Archive (Expert Forum)
Oral beta blockers and vision
Our Ask A Doctor Ophthalmology Forum is where you can post your question and receive a personal answer from physicians affiliated with the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Oral beta blockers and vision
by nickppatel, Jan 29, 2007 12:00AM
I have connective tissue problems (somewhat like Marfan syndrome) and have severe myopia (my contact lens prescription is currently -9.0 right eye, -9.5 left eye). Also some astigmatism.
I've noticed my eyesight was stable at -8.0 each eye for several (about 4-5) years, then when I started taking beta blockers (Toprol and then Coreg) for my heart palpitations and aortic enlargement, my eyesight started to get worse. Over 1.5 years, it went from -8.0 to -8.5. I then doubled my beta blocker dosage, and my eyesight seems to have gotten worse very quickly (in a year, gone from -8.5 in each eye to -9.0 and -9.5). Have you heard of oral beta blockers like Coreg and Toprol causing this kind of problem? I am thinking it might be the culprit because my eyesight was stable for so long, and it started to get worse at the same time as when I started taking the meds. My main worry is that the eyes will continue to get worse and that I'll go blind, although my doc says my eyes are structurally healthy right now.
Also, a question about contacts - I have mild astigmatism but don't wear toric lenses - I wear normal soft lenses. Sometimes the vision through a lens is CRYSTAL clear, like HDTV, and other times it's blurry. Is this more likely to be due to poor fitting/astigmatism or a vision problem itself?
Thanks Doc!
I've noticed my eyesight was stable at -8.0 each eye for several (about 4-5) years, then when I started taking beta blockers (Toprol and then Coreg) for my heart palpitations and aortic enlargement, my eyesight started to get worse. Over 1.5 years, it went from -8.0 to -8.5. I then doubled my beta blocker dosage, and my eyesight seems to have gotten worse very quickly (in a year, gone from -8.5 in each eye to -9.0 and -9.5). Have you heard of oral beta blockers like Coreg and Toprol causing this kind of problem? I am thinking it might be the culprit because my eyesight was stable for so long, and it started to get worse at the same time as when I started taking the meds. My main worry is that the eyes will continue to get worse and that I'll go blind, although my doc says my eyes are structurally healthy right now.
Also, a question about contacts - I have mild astigmatism but don't wear toric lenses - I wear normal soft lenses. Sometimes the vision through a lens is CRYSTAL clear, like HDTV, and other times it's blurry. Is this more likely to be due to poor fitting/astigmatism or a vision problem itself?
Thanks Doc!
Doctor's Answer
by Forum-OD-MP, Jan 29, 2007 12:00AM
"Have you heard of oral beta blockers like Coreg and Toprol causing this kind of problem?"
yes, really common. any med (like beta blockers) or disease (for example: diabetes) that affects water retention can cause changes in your Rx. even if your Rx does continue to "worsen" with more meds, that in and of itself does not increase your risk of "blindness". in other words, the meds wont blind you, they just may make you more nearsighted. there's a BIG difference.
the occasional vision problems could also be due to water retention inside the eye. this is really common as well. not only do some of those medications increase your myopia, they frequently also cause FLUCTUATIONS in your vision and prescription. in other words it is possible (probable, actually IMO) that your Rx is not "always" -9.00 and -9.50. i bet sometimes you're -8.50 and -9.00 instead. or -9.50 and -10.00. you could be fluctuating with your fluctuating blood medication level. frustrating on your end, but also really, really common. yes, could also be astigmatism, or contact lens fit. this might be really hard to figure out...
yes, really common. any med (like beta blockers) or disease (for example: diabetes) that affects water retention can cause changes in your Rx. even if your Rx does continue to "worsen" with more meds, that in and of itself does not increase your risk of "blindness". in other words, the meds wont blind you, they just may make you more nearsighted. there's a BIG difference.
the occasional vision problems could also be due to water retention inside the eye. this is really common as well. not only do some of those medications increase your myopia, they frequently also cause FLUCTUATIONS in your vision and prescription. in other words it is possible (probable, actually IMO) that your Rx is not "always" -9.00 and -9.50. i bet sometimes you're -8.50 and -9.00 instead. or -9.50 and -10.00. you could be fluctuating with your fluctuating blood medication level. frustrating on your end, but also really, really common. yes, could also be astigmatism, or contact lens fit. this might be really hard to figure out...
And yeah, it does depend on one's definition of "healthy!" LOL.