Red eyes are a dead giveaway that someone smoked cannabis. For some, red eyes are a given, while others who are less sensitive, they may not even experience red eyes depending on how much or what kind of marijuana they consume. If you’re someone who does experience red eyes, you’re probably wondering how long your eyes will stay red after eating edibles. We’ll answer that question below and give you some tips on what you can do about it.
Depending on the route and dose of THC, red eyes after consuming cannabis edibles can last from 4 to 12 hours.
When consuming cannabis orally, THC works much slower and lasts longer compared to smoking. It starts working in 30 to 90 minutes, reaches peak effect after two to three hours, and can last for up to 12 hours, depending on the dose. Individual factors, like your tolerance, body weight, and metabolism, also affect how quickly your eyes recover.
When smoking or vaporizing marijuana, on the other hand, THC absorbs quickly into the bloodstream. Effects usually peak within 15 to 30 minutes and subside within one to three hours, depending on the dose.
Why Does Marijuana Make Your Eyes Red?
To put it simply, THC lowers blood pressure, which dilates blood vessels and capillaries. This is why your eyes turn red after consuming edibles or smoking weed.
Reddening of the eyes after smoking cannabis is also one of the reasons it’s famous as a glaucoma treatment.
The ocular capillaries dilate, increasing blood flow to the eyes and lowering intraocular pressure. Increasing blood flow causes redness, and reducing pressure helps glaucoma patients.
Red eyes are a side-effect of consuming cannabis. Stoners are known for their red eyes, and this is caused by a dilation of blood vessels and increased blood flow in the eyes (a byproduct of THC).
The increased flow of blood to the eyes reduces intraocular pressure. Red eyes are caused by an increase in blood flow and a decrease in blood pressure. Some people get very red eyes after consuming marijuana, whereas others barely notice it. The side effect is usually not too bad, and it goes away with time.
Prevent Red Eyes When Consuming Marijuana: 5 Steps
So we’ve covered how to treat red eyes, but what about preventing them from occurring in the first place?
1. Use Eye Drops
The best way to get rid of red eyes is with over-the-counter eye drops. Tetryzoline, an alpha-agonist, constricts blood vessels, so all varieties of eye drops include it. This reverses THC’s dilation, so the eyes get less blood flow and redness. If you’re someone who consumes cannabis frequently, we highly recommend just having a bottle of eye drops handy. This is the fastest and most effective way to get rid of red eyes after consuming cannabis for most people.
2. Coffee and Caffeine Can Help
Vasoconstriction can also be triggered by other household items. Caffeine is an example of a stimulant that can cause vasoconstriction. Red eyes can be alleviated by drinking coffee or eating dark chocolate.
Vasoconstriction can also be caused by cold water. As part of our survival instinct, our bodies send blood to the core to protect vital organs. An ice pack placed across your eyes or splashing cold water on your face can provide a similar effect. It may also be helpful to spend a few minutes in a cold shower or ice bath.
While caffeine can help, it’s not going to offer as drastic of fast of results as eye drops.
3. Time is Key
They say time heals all things, and that’s certainly the case when it comes to edibles. The redness will go away eventually, particularly as the THC from the cannabis is naturally metabolized over time. So you can just wait for THC to run through your system. That’s why if you take a nap or go to sleep after consuming cannabis, when you wake up your eyes are usually clear again.
4. Choose Low THC Strains
Red eyes are caused by THC, so choosing a low THC strain or just using CBD will minimize them. Naturally, you won’t get the same high, but high-CBD strains are great for days when you don’t want red eyes. Again, if you do choose higher THC strains simply have some eye drops on standby and you shouldn’t have any issues whatsoever.
5. Planning
Some people say staying hydrated can reduce redness, but this isn’t true. Planning and time management are the next best forms of prevention. Plan to use marijuana well in advance of work or an important meeting so your body and eyes have time to recover.
Marijuana’s side effects include red eyes, which are completely harmless. However, they can be a hassle, especially for people who need to medicate with cannabis to get through the day. People with bloodshot eyes can trigger unwanted attention and legal questions at work or school because of the stigma surrounding marijuana. Redeyes after marijuana use can be reduced with some strategies.
More on How Consuming Cannabis Affects Your Eyes
Turns out cannabis can change the way you see things. According to research, cannabis can affect every organ in the body, including the eyes.
Cannabis compounds work their magic on your eyes by tapping into the largest cellular network in humans. It’s called the endocannabinoid system (ECS).
The most important thing to takeaway here, though, is how cannabis affects eye pressure.
TLDR: Marijuana And Red Eyes
We’ve all been there: You are passed out on the couch after taking edible hits, and your eyes start getting red and watery. You might not notice it much because you don’t expect it from edibles. And if you get hit hard by an edible train, you’ll probably be too high to care.
- Red eyes are the ultimate unintended of consuming cannabis. Stoners are known for their red eyes, and this is caused by a dilation of blood vessels and increased blood flow in the eyes (a byproduct of THC).
- A quick way to alleviate red eye pain is over-the-counter eye drops that can help constrict blood vessels.
- Drinking coffee or splashing cold water on the face can also help out minimize the consequences of red eyes.
- Edibles are the most problematic with red eyes, and smoking/vaporizing has a lesser effect. Try to minimize edible THC consumption if you have sensitive eyes.
- Plan ahead to allow the effects to subdue if it affects your work/college life. As an alternative, opt for low-THC strains to minimize the occurrence of red eyes.
Even if your eyes aren’t red when an edible hits hard, you just look high, your eyelids are half open, and you’re just out, so that’d be a red flag too. Be safe when you take edibles; it’s not like smoking a joint. Don’t drive after smoking, taking a dab, or eating an edible.
Wrap Up:
That does it for this article, let us know if you have any questions, comments, or additional tips to share below.