An elderly US man appears to have entered the medical record books after developing complete heart block from ingesting tetryzoline hydrochloride (Visine) eye drops.

While tetryzoline ingestion is known to cause hypotension and bradycardia, his is believed to be the first reported case of tetryzoline-induced complete heart block, say the doctors from Wayne State University in Michigan, Detroit.

The 76-year-old man ingested eight packs of the eye drops mixed in wine, while suicidal, after reading on the internet that this could deliver a quick and painless death.

The man had a history of major depressive disorder and said he was depressed following the death of all his golfing and fishing friends from COVID-19.