Do Edibles Make Your Eyes Red?

Picture this: You and your friends just had an all-timer of a smoke sesh. Now, you're hungry and want to go out for a bite. 

The problem? Your red, bloodshot eyes and a lingering public stigma.

While the negative perception is fading, pot consumption and effects like red eyes can still cause some antagonistic looks in public or maybe worse in some places. So, keeping the red eye on the DL whenever possible is best. 

There's only one small issue there: Red eyes are a common side effect of smoking cannabis. But what about other consumption methods? Do edibles make your eyes red, or is it just smoking? And what about vaping and other forms of consumption?

Read on to discover the answer and the science behind how cannabis use leads to red eyes. 

Do Edibles Make Your Eyes Red?

Indeed, they do. That delicious batch of weed gummies you just bought could make your eyes turn red— that is, if they contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). 

THC is the primary psychoactive compound responsible for the psychological and physical effects of consuming marijuana. Regardless of how THC enters your system, it could turn your eyes red. No matter the consumption method, you run the risk of red eyes if you consume THC.

Apart from making you high when it interacts with the endocannabinoid system, THC also dilates the blood vessels in the eyes and elsewhere around the body. This effect can lead to a drop in blood pressure, effectively increasing blood flow in the eyes (1). 

While all forms of THC can cause red eyes, that isn't the case with the entire plant. Cannabinoids like CBD are less likely to cause red eyes. That result is because CBD lacks the vasodilatory properties of THC. This rule applies to all CBD based products, edibles or otherwise. 

Here's some good news: Just as the high from weed fades after a few hours, red eyes are a temporary occurrence that will fade over time. Typically, this effect lasts between two and four hours after onset (2). The severity and longevity of the effects will depend on how much THC is consumed and the strain's potency. High-THC weed increases the intensity and the potential duration of red eyes.

Other Effects of THC On the Eyes

Besides causing your eyes to fill with blood, cannabis has various other effects on the eyes. One is eye dryness, occurring when hot weed smoke dehydrates the eye. THC is also known to bind to receptors in the body, temporarily reducing tear production. This further contributes to eye dryness (3). 

Another crucial item to consider is THC's effect on eye pressure and vision. The cannabinoid is known to reduce intraocular pressure via the eyes' blood pressure, an effective method to manage some symptoms of glaucoma, a group of progressive eye diseases resulting from damaged optic nerves. When an abnormality in the eye's drainage causes fluid to build up, the excessive pressure in the eye could damage the optic nerves. This is one of the main risk factors for glaucoma (4). 

The good thing is that THC is somewhat effective at reducing intraocular pressure. Select analysis has found that THC may reduce intraocular pressure by up to 40%, making it nearly as effective as Timolol and other commercial anti-glaucoma meds.

The only downsides to THC is its intoxicating high effects, which some may not enjoy. 

Additionally, the effects only reduce eye pressure for a few hours per dose, requiring multiple doses to manage symptoms throughout the day. Many people have also reported experiencing blurry vision after smoking weed or popping a super potent gummy. These effects typically result from slowed visual processing and reduced contrast sensitivity, both recorded effects of consuming THC over time (5).

How to Prevent and Treat Red Eyes from Edibles

Red eyes are annoying and often uncomfortable. Thankfully, a few methods exist to lessen or alleviate the symptoms in relatively short order. 

Over-the-counter eye drops remain a standard option. Most eye drops contain chemical decongestants such as tetrahydrozoline and naphazoline. These options temporarily reduce the swelling in the eye's blood vessels, allowing blood to flow out of the eyes and eliminating the reddish, pinkish hue (6). 

Or skip the OTC options and use a cold compress to constrict the blood vessels in the eyes, helping erase redness and reducing fluid retention around the eyes. This helps eliminate puffy eyelids, another common side effect of smoking weed. 

Don't forget to monitor what you consume. While eye drops and cold compresses are effective at reducing eye redness, smoking cannabis strains with low THC could ensure your eyes don't get so red in the first place. 

Broader Causes of Red Eyes

Cannabis isn't the only thing that causes red eyes. Sometimes, you wake up, and your eyes are so red it's like someone colored them in with a crayon— and you can't figure out why for the life of you. 

One reason your eyes are abnormally red is prolonged exposure to environmental irritants such as extremely dry air or the sun. Mechanical irritation, trauma, and allergic reactions are other common causes of eye redness. 

Medical conditions like pink eye and blepharitis could also turn your eyes red. 

Pink eye is an inflammation or infection of the transparent membrane that lines your eyeballs and eyelids. This infection causes redness and an itchy sensation in the eye. Also known as conjunctivitis, pink eye can be treated with antibiotic medication (7).

On the other hand, blepharitis is an eye condition that causes the eyelids to swell, turn red, and become itchy. It may also lead to the release of discharge that cakes up overnight, leaving crusty, dandruff-like flakes on your eyelashes. This condition is treated using topical antibiotics (8).

If your eyes are still red the next day, consider seeking medical attention. Your doctor will diagnose your condition and possibly prescribe medication and treatment steps. If you display symptoms, consider regularly washing your hands and avoiding sharing edibles or other items until diagnosed. In many cases, these conditions can be spread from one person to another. 

Edibles and Red Eye Tips

As we've seen, ingesting THC edibles instead of smoking won't help avoid red eyes since THC is the compound responsible for the short-term unwanted effect. However, consumers can take measures to reduce the intensity of eye redness.

One of the go-to methods includes consuming weed in moderation, especially if it contains high amounts of THC. With edibles, most infused products have 10 mg or less of THC per serving. That's a pretty significant dose for newcomers. However, this may not be the case for experienced consumers. While veteran pot consumers may be able to handle the effects of a 10 mg option, they could still experience red eyes.

All in all, you should avoid overindulging in weed of any kind, edibles or otherwise. Consuming too much THC is known to cause nausea, dizziness, paranoia, and other uncomfortable side effects (9). Also, avoid mixing cannabis edibles with other substances, including alcohol, psychedelics, medications, or similar substances. Mixing these substances can lead to many adverse outcomes.

While some may swear they drive better under the influence of THC, we strongly recommend against it. THC has been associated with slowed cognitive functions, including focus and reaction time. With public safety and criminal implications as potential results, it's best to avoid consuming cannabis until you are safely at your destination. And while we're at it, avoid driving or operating machinery after ingesting cannabis.

Frequently Asked Questions

It isn't smoking weed that makes your eyes red. It's the THC.

Like all other forms of THC, edibles could cause your eyes to turn red. This common unwanted outcome is primarily due to the effect THC has on the blood vessels in the eyes. THC increases blood flow to the eyes, turning the eyes red or pinkish and likely causing discomfort. 

Any method of THC consumption can lead to red eyes. Thankfully, the effect is short-term and easy to manage in most cases. Eye drops or a cold compress usually do the job. 

Now, let's dive into the topic some more with a few frequently asked questions. 

Do all cannabinoids cause red eyes, or is it just THC?

THC is the only cannabinoid that causes the eyes to turn red. CBD, CBG, CBN, and other cannabinoids lack the vasodilatory properties needed to create the effect. As such, these cannabinoids don't produce red eyes.

Does indica or sativa make your eyes red?

Indica and sativa are terms used to describe the structure of the two types of cannabis plants. The two terms are often incorrectly attributed to effects. However, some strain trends align with the sedative and uplifting effects attributed to indicas and sativas. But, to answer the question, yes, both indica and sativa strains will make your eyes red as long as their plant profile contains THC. 

How can you prevent red eyes from developing?

Consuming low doses of THC is the easiest way to prevent red eyes. If all else fails, have a remedy nearby in case any symptoms develop. A small bottle of eye drops or a cold compress can lessen or eliminate red eye symptoms.