Red Eyes and Cannabis

Every cannabis user knows about weed eyes. It is the most common tell-tale sign that you’re high. The eyes are red, sometimes bloodshot and it feels like you’re looking through slits. But why do our eyes react so obviously to cannabis?

For people to new cannabis, this can induce panic and for regular users, it might trigger some paranoia that everyone will notice you’ve just partaken. To put everyone’s mind at ease, taking cannabis will not make you blind nor will it harm your eyes. And no, it’s not an allergic reaction to weed. In fact, it is totally natural to see an immediate onset of weed eyes.

Blood Pressure and Capillaries

After smoking cannabis, there is an elevation in your blood pressure and your heart rate. This is because the cannabinoids in the plant are interacting with the body. An increase in heart rate and blood pressure is normal, just as if you were doing some physical exercise.

About 10 minutes after taking cannabis, your heart rate will slowly return to normal and your blood pressure will start to decrease. When this happens, your blood vessels dilate, causing the capillaries to dilate (including the capillaries in your eyes). This dilation increases the blood flow to your eyes resulting in the noticeable redness. It also reduces intraocular pressure, which is the pressure of the fluid inside the eye.

There are benefits though.

A study showed that cannabis could slow down Neurodegenerative blindness as the cannabinoids prevented the degradation of photoreceptors in those with retinitis pigmentosa, which is a genetic disorder that causes loss of vision.

Additionally, with the reduction of intraocular pressure is actually what makes cannabis a possible treatment for glaucoma. This has not been verified through clinical studies but it is commonly discussed as an alternative therapy.

Glaucoma is a health condition that affects the eye causing damage to the nerves that often results in blindness. And because THC in medical marijuana lowers intraocular pressure, it is a worthwhile study to determine if patients with glaucoma will benefit. Cannabis can temporarily relieve symptoms associated with glaucoma but more research is needed as a long-term option.

Another reason why cannabis has an effect on the eyes is that we have high levels of a cannabinoid receptor in the eye. And our endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays a part in our vision.

Activity on the cannabinoid receptors influences the electroretinographic waves that pass through our retina and these receptors moderate our eyes’ response to light. This is also why some people actually experience enhanced night vision when they’re stoned.

THC and the Severity of Weed Eyes

How much THC you consume is a determining factor in how red your eyes become and how much your blood pressure is lowered. Because THC is the psychoactive element in the cannabis plant, it causes “intoxication” when consumed, so the higher the THC concentration in the product, the more noticeable the effects will be, and thus the redder your eyes will become.

While smoking induces eye redness, the same thing can happen when consuming THC edibles. The THC content will affect the severity even with edibles. It is not the smoke from a joint that irritates the eyes, it’s the cannabis compounds having a physiological interaction with the body.

So, weed eyes can be a good indicator as to the THC levels present which increases its potency. When your eyes perceptibly bloodshot after consuming cannabis, it’s highly probable that you have a quality product.

If you want to be discreet about the fact that you’ve just had a reefer, then carrying some eye drops or sunglasses with you is a good way to mask it. Unless it’s night-time then you may look suspicious wearing sunglasses. Use a good brand of eye drops that are specifically used for reducing redness. Other methods to conceal your weed eyes include staying hydrated, splashing your face and eyelids with cold water, or consuming cannabis products that have a lower THC level (eye drops, in this case, maybe better).

In conclusion, weed eyes are just an obvious sign that you’ve had cannabis but other than that, there is no reason to panic or become concerned about your eye health. Weed eyes only last for a few hours before returning to normal, or you can expedite that by using the methods above.