Red Eyes

A common side effect of marijuana use is red eyes. For many people, every time they use cannabis, their eyes appear to be bloodshot. This is considered one of the dead giveaways that someone has smoked pot. However, others don’t seem to struggle with this as much. Why is that? And what causes this cliched “stoned” appearance?

Red eyes are not harmful, and you won’t have any long-term effects because of them. In fact, for many people who use medical marijuana the primary cause of red eyes is the reason they take cannabis medications.

What Causes Red Eyes?

There are several factors that can cause your eyes to appear red or bloodshot after you use marijuana. The main reasons red eyes occur are:

• Lowered Blood Pressure: One of the reasons medical marijuana is a useful treatment is because of THC’s ability to lower blood pressure. It’s especially beneficial as a glaucoma medication, as the condition is caused by increased intraocular pressure. However, when blood pressure is lowered, it causes the vessels and capillaries to dilate. This increased blood flow causes eyes to appear red.
•  Smoke Irritation: Some eyes are just sensitive to smoke — it doesn’t matter if it is cannabis, tobacco or a campfire, their eyes will get red and irritated.
• Allergy: If you have an allergy to marijuana or smoke, using this plant or smoking it will more than likely make your eyes red. However, allergies to weed are very rare.

Get Rid of Those Red Eyes

Unless you have an allergy to cannabis, the cause for red eyes is harmless. For some, it’s even beneficial. The best thing to do is just to let it fade away naturally. This isn’t a long-term side effect — it usually wears off after a few hours.

However, if you need to go out and about, you don’t necessarily want to leave the house with bloodshot eyes. Here are some tips on how you can minimize the appearance of red eyes:

• Try a Different Strain: If the strain you use is high in THC, it doesn’t matter whether it’s a smokable or edible, it’s more likely to make your eyes red. Try strains high in CBD or CBN instead.
• Switch Up Your Ingestion Method: If smoke irritates your eyes, try a different method of ingestion, like vaping or edibles.
• Use Eyedrops: Using eye drops specifically designed to reduce eye redness can help. They constrict the vessels in the eye, thus causing them to appear less red. It’s a good idea to carry these around with you and use the drops multiple times a day. Don’t share your drops with others, as this can lead to eye infections.
• Drink Lots of Fluids: If you’re dehydrated, smoke can dry out your eyes, causing them to appear redder.
• Cover Them Up: Although it’s cliché, if you’re outside, try wearing sunglasses. This will prevent others from seeing the redness in your eyes.
• Apply an Ice Pack: Use this simple home remedy for five minutes on each eye to decrease redness.

Talk to Your Doctor About Medical Marijuana

For patients with glaucoma or high blood pressure, marijuana’s ability to lower blood pressure is one of its medical benefits. Although bloodshot eyes can be pesky or embarrassing, it’s nothing to be concerned about. Cannabis is gaining popularity across the nation as a treatment for many medical conditions. It does have a few side effects that should be discussed with your doctor. However, its benefits far outweigh these for most patients.

If you feel medical marijuana would make a good treatment option for you, it’s time to contact a marijuana certified doctor in your state. Our advice shouldn’t replace there’s, so make an appointment today. For specific strain information, contact a dispensary near you to speak with a budtender.