The Bloodshot Look: Why Cannabis Causes Red Eyes
The results from using medical marijuana are proven to be amazing. Many people are now opting to use marijuana as a treatment for a wide variety of ailments. However, despite the fact that there are so many benefits to using it, one of the biggest drawbacks comes with the redness in your eyes caused by using marijuana. Whether you smoke it or use edibles, there’s really no way to avoid the redness you experience. However, the following information will help you better understand what causes red eyes, the side effects, and possible remedies to help minimize bloodshot eyes.
What exactly causes the red eyes?
Tetrahydrocannabinol, better known as THC, is what causes your eyes to turn red after consuming cannabis. This will make your eyes turn red no matter how the cannabis gets into your body, which means it will happen whether through smoking or through edibles. THC is the primary ingredient in cannabis and it’s what gives you the sensation of being high. The main effect of this is decreased blood pressure, so when your body’s blood pressure drops, the blood vessels get larger to help maintain a good blood pressure. This results in your blood vessels in the eye looking red and bloodshot.
Does this side-effect impact a person’s vision and/or long term sight?
The information surrounding this particular topic is somewhat debated. In general, if you’re only using cannabis in small doses, you won’t experience any negative impact on your vision. However, in high and excessive doses, cannabis could possibly play a factor in your peripheral vision over time.
How can this help cannabis treat glaucoma?
Amazingly, this makes for a great treatment for glaucoma. When someone has glaucoma, they have built up pressure in their eyes that leads to decreased eyesight. However, when the blood vessels dilate, the blood flow improves and helps relieve that pressure.
How can a person alleviate or limit the redness in their eyes?
As unfortunate as it is, the redness in your eyes is a result of things happening inside your body, which means there really isn’t a lot you can do to help it go away. Your best option is to use eye drops specifically for redness relief. Eating food with caffeine, chocolate or salt has also been known to minimize redness.
While bloodshot eyes are certainly a negative (and frankly, unattractive) side-effect of cannabis consumption, it’s a small price to pay for the overall benefits that a patient experiences from it. Just remember, although it may be an undesired effect, it is only temporary!
You can learn more about medical marijuana, the various conditions it can effectively treat, and up-to-date information on its evolving recognition in the medical community by checking out MedWell Health & Wellness on Twitter!
Aaron Bloom serves as the CEO, overseeing the mission and growth of DocMJ and Medwell Health and Wellness Centers. Aaron’s passion for improving patients’ lives comes from his background in health care. For more than 20 years, Aaron owned, operated, and represented traditional healthcare organizations. This experience created a passion for finding improved ways to relieve suffering. His goal as CEO is to work daily to relieve all patients who seek better health and wellness through the medicinal benefits of medical cannabis and evidence-based alternative medicines.
