Weed & Red Eyes: Why It Happens and How Get Rid Of Them
-
Blog
>
Weed & Red Eyes: Why It Happens and How Get Rid Of Them
Estimated 4-minute read
Ever googled “why are my eyes red after smoking weed” or “can smoking weed damage your eyes” and Google is immediately like “yeah, you’re probably going to lose your eyesight”?
I’m exaggerating here, but one has to admit that sometimes google searches are more panic induced searches when we don’t know how to research or where to look at true information.
Before we dive any further on why weed gives consumers red, bloodshot eyes let me reassure you that you are not in danger. Getting red eyes from weed is actually a very common side effect of consuming cannabis, so let’s explore the reason behind it and learn how you can manage it.
Why Does Weed Make My Eyes Red?
First and foremost, let's start off by debunking a myth: Your eyes turning red have nothing to do with the smoke you or your smoking buddies are exhaling. In fact, ever noticed that eating a pot brownie or other edibles will also cause your eyes to become red? The culprit is THC.
According to Weed Maps, 10 to 15 minutes after people consume cannabis they generally experience an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, whether it’s smoking the flower, vaping concentrates, eating an edible, etc. This increase is completely normal and it also happens while doing physical activities such as exercising.
THC in the body will lead this game of rising and lowering. When heart rate and blood pressure increase, the latter will eventually lower in a modest hypotensive effect, meaning a decrease in blood pressure. Naturally, the blood vessels and capillaries will dilate, which in turn causes an increase in blood flow to the eyes. This increase in blood flow creates eye redness, while also reducing pressure in the eye, a process called intraocular pressure or IOP.
The previously explained process is actually very good news to patients with glaucoma – a group of eye disorders that cause damage to the optic nerves which can eventually lead to blindness (Weed Maps, 2021.) Decreasing eye pressure is the benefit that glaucoma patients seek to treat and relieve symptoms; however, studies are still being carried out due to contradictory results.
It’s true that cannabis won’t always cause eye redness, Weed Maps mentions that the rise and fall of blood pressure –and in consequence, how red your eyes become– depends on the amount of THC you consume. Simply put it like this: the greater the THC concentration is, the stronger the intoxicating effects, causing the redder your eyes become.
Additionally, it’s not that the more red your eyes get, the better your weed is. It’s actually more along the lines of “the more THC concentration your weed has, the redder your eyes will get”. In other words, bloodshot eyes can also be an indicator of how potent the cannabis strain is.
How Long Will My Eyes Stay Red After Consuming Weed?
According to Leafwell, the red eyes after a cannabis ingestion will typically last from 1 to 2 hours; however, it all depends on how much THC has been consumed and how your system processes it, as well as each person’s body chemistry and the difference between cannabis strains. For some people, red eyes could last up to four hours.
How Do I Get Rid Of Cannabis Red Eyes?
Check out these different tips you can use.
Use over-the-counter eye drops, also known as OTC. These are designed for treating allergic reactions, as well as the most commonly used method to treat red eyes caused by cannabis.
There’s nothing like drinking water to help restore the dryness in your body.
I know this may sound contradictory against staying hydrated, but it turns out that caffeine carries out this little process called vasoconstriction. Similar to OTC, caffeine helps reduce blood flow in the eyes, eventually decreasing redness. Helpful beverages include coffee, tea, energy drinks and cola.
Place a cold compress over your eyes or try splashing cold water on your face to reduce red eyes. Cold will cause the blood vessels to constrict and reduce blood flow in your eyes.
If you’re getting tired of getting red eyes every time you consume cannabis, try changing to a strain that has less THC than what you usually take. This will reduce the chances of getting red eyes.
Remember the effects can last from 1 to 3 hours, so plan your smoking sessions or edible consumptions accordingly if you don’t want anyone to notice your stoned eyes.
If none of these tips work on you or you’re not entirely convinced, you could just let this side effect run its course. Remember that you have no reason to be concerned about the redness of your eyes; other than giving away that fact that you consumed cannabis, you have nothing to worry about.
Share your knowledge and good practices with us, what other remedies help you get rid of red eyes?
Author: Mary Jane
Bone, M. (2021). Why does weed make your eyes red? Weed Maps. Retrieved from https://weedmaps.com/learn/cannabis-and-your-body/eyes-turn-red-smoke-weed
Hemraj, D. How Long Do Red Eyes Last From Weed? Leafwell. Retrieved from https://leafwell.com/blog/how-long-do-red-eyes-last-from-weed/
Lland, R. (2022). Why do smoking cannabis and eating edibles cause red, bloodshot eyes? Leafly. Retrieved from https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/why-does-smoking-weed-make-your-eyes-red
Comments
Related
Why Should You Buy Delta 8 Carts And Smoke Pipes On Sale
Estimated 6-minute read
Read more
What Can You Smoke In a Pipe? - Types Of Pipes
Estimated 7-minute read
Read more
Glass Pipes: Pros And Cons Of Using Glass For Weed Pipes
Estimated 8-minute read
Read more
How Much Water Do You Put In A Bong?
Estimated 6-minute read
Read more
Learn About Cannabis: 5 Cannabis College Degrees in the US
Estimated 7-minute read
Read more
Does Making Edibles Smell?
Estimated 3-minute read
Read more
What Is THC Spray? Cannabis Oral Spray
Estimated 6-minute read
Read more
What Is A Carb On A Weed Pipe?
Estimated 4-minute read
Read more
Why Grinding Your Weed Is A Must For The Best Experience?
Estimated 4-minute read
Read more
One Hitter Pipe: Why It Can Be a Game Changer
Estimated 4-minute read
Read more
Why Do You Need A Weed Mini Pipe In Your Life?
Estimated 7-minute read
Read more
Marijuana Grinder FAQs: All Your Questions Answered Here
Estimated 8-minute read
Read more
The Truth About Weed Hangover
Estimated 4-minute read
Read more
Why Should You Buy Organic Kratom Products And Smoking Pipes Online?
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
Why Is Cannabis Delivery In Vancouver Reliable?
Estimated 6-minute read
Read more
What If Famous Characters Smoked Weed? - HØJ Reviews
Estimated 9-minute read
Read more
Exploring the Science Behind Effects of THC on the Brain
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
Does Weed Gets You Higher With An Empty Stomach?
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
Can Dabs Go Bad? And Other Weed Questions
Estimated 6-minute read
Read more
Organic CBD Shopping Guide: 7 Tips to Purchase Authentic Products
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
Do Edibles Taste Like Weed?
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
What Is A Geeb?: What You Should Know About Gravity Bongs
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
Why Should You Buy Red Maeng Da Kratom On Sale?
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
Difference Between Joint And Blunt
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
What Is a Gravity Bong? Homemade Bong: How to Smoke it
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
Is Weed A Gateway Drug?
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
Learn The Benefits Of Edibles: Diversify Your Cannabis Consumption
Estimated 4-minute read
Read more
Hybrid Marijuana Meaning: What is Hybrid Weed?
Estimated 6-minute read
Read more
How Long Does A High Last?: The Effects Of Cannabis In Your Body
Estimated 6-minute read
Read more
Is Bong Water Good For Plants?
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
How Do Bongs Work
Estimated 4-minute read
Read more
Weed & Music: The Science Behind The Pairing
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
Is It Safe to Use CBD for Dogs With Anxiety?
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
The Myth Of Holding The Smoke Debunked
Estimated 4-minute read
Read more
Why Do People Prefer Buying Weed In Bulk?
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
What Is Red Kratom Used For?
Estimated 7-minute read
Read more
Is Weed An Effective Ally To Combat Alcoholism?
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
Learn About Cannabis: 4 Cannabis Courses Online For Beginners
Estimated 8-minute read
Read more
Delta 8 THC Vape Juice: What Makes It Favorable Among The Youth?
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
The Truth About Weed Detox
Estimated 10-minute read
Read more
Could Cannabis Be A Secret Weapon Against Climate Change?
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
Can CBD Gummies Help You Fight Mood Swings?
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
Why Are People Choosing Delta 10 Vape Pen Lately?
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
Kratom Extracts For Sale: Are They Worth Investing In?
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
How Can Weed Improve Your Fitness Lifestyle
Estimated 3-minute read
Read more
Microdosing Marijuana Explained: What, How & Why
Estimated 11-minute read
Read more
CBD Bath Bombs And Salts: Take A Shower For De-stress
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
Transdermal Cannabis: Is It Really For You?
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
Explained: CBD vs. THC, Its Uses, Benefits & More
Estimated 8-minute read
Read more
The Best Part Of Waking Up Is… Cannabis-Infused Coffee?
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
Thanksgiving Thoughts: Will Cannabis Make Me Gain Weight?
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
Can You Travel With Pot Within the US?
Estimated 3-minute read
Read more
Can I Donate Blood If I Smoke Marijuana?
Estimated 3-minute read
Read more
Your Dog Ate A Joint? What To Do If Your Dog Ate Weed
Estimated 8-minute read
Read more
5 Myths About the Hemp Plant That Need to Be Debunked
Estimated 4-minute read
Read more
Lazy Stoner? The Untrue Stereotypes Around Smoking Weed
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
Does Cannabis Kills Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria?
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
Hotboxing Explained: What, How & Where To Do It
Estimated 7-minute read
Read more
Why Carl Sagan Recommended You Smoke Weed
Estimated 6-minute read
Read more
The Difference Between Wax, Dab & Vape Pens
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
Why When You Stop Smoking Marijuana, Dreams Come Back At Their Fullest?
Estimated 3-minute read
Read more
Is Sex Better With Weed? | Having Sex While High
Estimated 4-minute read
Read more
Awkward Truths About Weed
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
Why Buy a Herb Grinder with Kief Catcher?
Estimated 4-minute read
Read more
Weed and Drug Tests: Types of Drug Tests
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
Saving Money on Cannabis: Is the "Panteonera" Good For You?
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
Can You Smoke Weed With Bible Paper?
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
Cannabis For Menopause Symptoms Relief?
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
The Most Eco-Friendly Ways to Get High
Estimated 3-minute read
Read more
Zero Waste Garden: Make the most out of your weed plants
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
Why Does Weed Make You Horny?
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
FAQs About Smoking Weed | Questions About Weed
Estimated 8-minute read
Read more
FAQs About Weed Edibles | What To Know About Edibles
Estimated 6-minute read
Read more
Cannabis And Endometriosis: A Possible Solution?
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
How Delta 8 is Helping People Enjoy the Benefits of Cannabis Without the High
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
Can You Put A Weed Grinder In Your Checked Luggage?
Estimated 4-minute read
Read more
Can Weed Help With Period Cramps?
Estimated 7-minute read
Read more
Weed and Pregnancy
Estimated 4-minute read
Read more
Vaping Tricks for Beginners
Estimated 4-minute read
Read more
Benefits Of Smoking Weed
Estimated 4-minute read
Read more
Does Weed Have An Expiration Date? Weed Red Flags
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
Getting A New Weed Dealer: What You Should Expect?
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
Medical Cannabis For Dogs
Estimated 6-minute read
Read more
8 Fascinating Benefits of Medical & Recreational Cannabis
Estimated 7-minute read
Read more
How to Roll a Plumber's Joint
Estimated 4-minute read
Read more
How to Roll a Slow-Burning Joint
Estimated 2-minute read
Read more
Cannabutter Caramel Sauce Recipe
Estimated 2-minute read
Read more
How to Make ABV Brownies
Estimated 3-minute read
Read more
What is a Chillum Pipe?
Estimated 7-minute read
Read more
How to Roll a Peace Sign Joint Filter
Estimated 2-minute read
Read more
Best Pipe Screens
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
What is a Pipe Screen?
Estimated 3-minute read
Read more
Smoking out of a Brass Pipe - Is it Safe?
Estimated 4-minute read
Read more
How to Make a Seashell Pipe
Estimated 3-minute read
Read more
What are Rolling Papers Made Of
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more
How Much Do Rolling Papers Cost?
Estimated 4-minute read
Read more
Is Smoking Weed From a Pipe Bad For You?
Estimated 5-minute read
Read more