Lily Miller First, do edibles make your eyes red? YES!
Edibles make the eyes red because one of the ingredients, THC, is a vasodilator. Your body’s and your eyes’ receptors are affected by cannabinoids. Your blood pressure will decrease as a result, and the dilation or expansion of the blood vessels and capillaries will increase blood flow to the area.
Please continue reading for more information.
Table of Contents
The Real Meaning Of Edibles
Cannabis-infused edibles are food and beverage products. They can be found in gummies, brownies, or drinks, among other forms. THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol), two of marijuana’s active ingredients, are present in the candies or food. Either one of these ingredients, or both, can be found in edibles. Every year, edibles gain popularity, and the recent widespread legalization of marijuana has only increased this trend.
Do Edibles Make Your Eyes Red?
If you consume edibles, you might experience red eyes, but it depends on the kind of edible you take. The effects of THC and CBD on you will be very different.
THC Edibles
Due to the effect that THC has on your blood vessels, THC edibles may cause your eyes to become red. THC has been shown to lower blood pressure, which causes your blood vessels to enlarge. We all have numerous tiny blood vessels in our eyes, and it is believed that THC causes these vessels to enlarge, giving people’s eyes a “bloodshot” appearance after smoking or eating. People frequently feel lightheaded after smoking marijuana or any THC-containing edible, including CBD/THC edibles, which is caused by the same drop in blood pressure.
CBD Edibles
The opposite of how THC expands blood vessels is CBD. Therefore, you shouldn’t experience red eyes if you’re eating edibles that only contain CBD (and have no detectable THC content).
What Distinguishes Eating From Smoking?
THC can be consumed most easily through edibles. Making the process open to everyone raises questions about novice users abusing it.
Smoking is not ineffective like edibles. The amount of THC you take in depends on how effectively you smoke. To get high, a user must inhale smoke containing THC molecules and allow their blood to absorb them. This is why many new marijuana users don’t experience any effects; they are still learning how to inhale. Although most of the particles in THC smoke are absorbed by the lungs, it can be difficult to get the drug there.
On the other hand, edible THC is processed in the digestive system less effectively but is consumed more quickly. The THC and other cannabis compounds are therefore largely wasted in the process. The THC that does reach the liver and is properly metabolized, however, is much stronger than the THC we inhale.
The Smoke And Eye Irritation Myth
“Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” may be a great song about missing someone. Unfortunately, it’s a poor justification for why smoking marijuana causes your eyes to become red.
At least since the 1960s, there has been a widespread misconception that redness results from irritation brought on by smoke. However, many people were dissatisfied to learn that even as edible and vaping gained popularity, their visual responses remained the same.
Is Having Red Eyes Dangerous?
Although THC-induced red eyes are not harmful, they can irritate, make your eyes feel a little puffy, and make you uncomfortable.
There are other possible causes for your red eyes, particularly if you’ve been consuming CBD-only edibles. You may want to talk to a doctor about your symptoms if you have red or irritated eyes. You might be suffering from an allergy, a contact lens issue, or eye fatigue.
Is It Cause For Concern?
It’s perfectly normal and completely safe to experience red eyes after eating something. If you take edibles as a medication, it can be particularly difficult to manage this side effect. Dealing with red eyes at work can attract unwanted attention, and using cannabis does carry some stigma.
The common over-the-counter eye drops used to treat eye redness and irritation brought on by allergies and other conditions can be used to treat your red eyes. To help constrict the blood vessels in the eyes, you can also try sprinkling cool water on your face and over your eyes, drinking caffeine, or eating dark chocolate.
All of the redness in your eyes will eventually go away, but just be aware that it typically lasts longer after eating an edible than after using another method to consume marijuana. It takes longer to reach its maximum effect, which is longer and lasts for two to three hours. Depending on the dose, the redness may persist for 4 to 12 hours. How long it takes for your eyes to clear up is influenced by your weight, metabolism, and tolerance. Plan ahead and select low THC varieties or, if available, only CBD varieties.
How To Avoid Red Eyes In The First Place?
If you find yourself answering no to the question “Do foods cause your eyes to become red?” you may want to get your blood pressure checked. The vasodilating effect will be stronger in people with lower blood pressure.
However, you shouldn’t increase your overall blood pressure in an effort to prevent red eyes after eating or smoking.
Instead, keep an eye on how much THC you consume at one time. Your eyes will probably become more red as you consume more. You avoid having such a pronounced dilation due to lower percentage strains. Since you can precisely control how many milligrams of THC you consume at once with edibles, they can be excellent for this.
Since everyone has a different tolerance for vasodilation, you should try out various doses until you find one that prevents you from experiencing any noticeable reddening.
Last but not least, hydrate well before taking any THC. Dehydration will make the visible reddening even more pronounced.
How Blood Vessels & Capillaries Are Affected By Cannabis
Similar to the endocannabinoid anandamide, THC has an impact on our blood. When THC or anandamide enters the bloodstream, the blood pressure is reduced, and the user experiences a lovely serotonin high. Running for an extended period of time can naturally cause the phenomenon, also known as the runner’s high.
Why Does Cannabis Help Glaucoma Patients?
THC’s ability to lower blood pressure and reduce intraocular pressure is taken advantage of by glaucoma patients. High eye pressure is the root of the issue. Consuming cannabis can lower intraocular pressure as effectively as other more conventional treatments.
Medical marijuana is successful in treating glaucoma because it lowers blood pressure, which lowers intraocular pressure. The majority of glaucoma patients, however, favor alternative therapies because it is impractical to smoke marijuana continuously. THC reduces blood pressure, but it must be used continuously. See more about What Is A Red Eye Flight?
Ways To Treat Red Eyes
There are steps you can take to lessen the redness of your eyes if your edibles are the cause.
- Limit your THC consumption: switching to You should experience less blood vessel dilation and less redness if you consume CBD-only edibles or edibles with lower THC concentrations.
- Drink lots of water: keeping hydrated will help reduce the eye dryness and irritation that can come with THC consumption.
- Use eye drops: eye drops specifically formulated for dry and red eyes can reduce the appearance of bloodshot eyes and may lessen irritation, too.
- Give your eyes a cool compress: a cool face cloth pressed against your eyes can help reduce the puffiness and irritation that can make red eyes even redder.
Ways To Reduce Red Eyes
Your consumption of cannabis will affect how much and how well it makes you feel, which will affect how red your eyes are.
For instance, you might consume a low-THC strain today and experience little to no red-eye, but if you consume a high-THC strain tomorrow, your eyes will be beet red.
Eye redness is transient and typically goes away within a few hours.
The good news is that there are other ways to lessen the severity and discomfort of your red eyes in addition to refraining from THC.
When you experience red eyes in the future, try these remedies:
- Reducing the frequency of consumption
- Reduced your number of smoke sessions
- Use products with a lower THC content, like the CBD flower from my shop
- Increased your fluid intake, drink cold water and stay hydrated
- For itchy or puffiness, try a cold compress or ice pack over the eyes
- The best are eye drops! Whether it be over the counter eye drops, or prescription, drops for dry eyes can be a lifesaver
- Take out your contacts if you have them in
Ways To Avoid Red Eyes After Consuming Cannabis
After consuming THC, it is impossible to naturally prevent increased blood flow to the ocular capillaries. However, with the help of eye drops, you can prevent bloodshot eyes and look much more presentable out in public.
Eye drops work by concealing the blood vessels in the eyes by narrowing them. If they don’t want to appear completely stoned, every seasoned veteran has a selection of eye drops to choose from.
Are blue eyes a sign of inbreeding? It surprises me to say that the majority of Europeans with blue eyes seem to be fairly closely related. The DNA of the individual can reveal this to scientists.
The End
Even though eye redness is a possibility, it doesn’t follow that it will happen each time you consume edibles. Various THC concentrations can be found in each edible product. Eye redness won’t always happen as a result.
Additionally, a person’s personal health has an impact. This covers things like blood pressure, sex, genetics, and general health. For those who have high blood pressure, for instance, a higher THC concentration will be required to cause a sufficient drop in blood pressure to cause red eyes.
