{"id":49945,"date":"2020-02-12T21:13:39","date_gmt":"2020-02-12T21:13:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/merryjane.com\/why-does-weed-make-our-eyes-red-and-how-can-you-clear-them-up\/"},"modified":"2020-02-12T21:13:39","modified_gmt":"2020-02-12T21:13:39","slug":"why-does-weed-make-our-eyes-red-and-how-can-you-clear-them-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/merryjane.com\/culture\/why-does-weed-make-our-eyes-red-and-how-can-you-clear-them-up\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Does Weed Make Our Eyes Red? And How Can You Clear Them Up?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The red-eyed stoner with a half-lidded gaze is an iconic trope of weed culture. And since there\u2019s science behind this phenomenon, science can treat it, too.<\/p>\n

The reason why people\u2019s eyes get red when they\u2019ve smoked, vaped, eaten, or drank some weed comes from vasodilation<\/u><\/a> \u2014 in other words, cannabis causes the eye\u2019s blood vessels to open up. The whites of our eyes, called the sclera, contain thousands of tiny blood vessels that we normally can\u2019t see. But when some tokers hit the green, those whites become streaked with jagged cracks of red, which is just the blood vessels widening and filling up with more blood.<\/p>\n

Vasodilation, while not great if you\u2019re about to meet your partner\u2019s parents, or if you\u2019re about to show up to a job interview, is one of weed\u2019s properties that is most sought out by seniors<\/u><\/a>. By expanding the blood vessels in the eye, weed takes pressure off the peepers, which explains why a toke now and again can work wonders for treating glaucoma<\/u><\/a>. (And why the DEA\u2019s crappy weed farmer is now trying to cash in on his own patented cannabis eye drops<\/u><\/a>.) <\/p>\n

There\u2019s another reason why some folks get bloodshot eyes after getting ripped: allergies. Allergic reactions<\/u><\/a> to weed are rare, but not unheard of, and they\u2019re usually accompanied by breathing difficulties, coughing, exhaustion, and all the other symptoms of allergies. Furthermore, chances are that most people who respond this way to weed aren\u2019t just allergic to cannabis; they\u2019re allergic to all forms of smoke.<\/p>\n

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Thanks, Bill Nye. Now, How Do I Get Rid of This Red-Eye Shit?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, if you\u2019re one of those people who gets squinty-eyed after blazing, there\u2019s not a whole lot you can do.<\/p>\n

The simplest and quickest solution is to apply some eye drops. Look for ones specifically designed to treat redness<\/u><\/a> or allergies<\/u><\/a>. <\/p>\n

Another solution \u2014 and one we don\u2019t recommend \u2014 is to cross-fade your sesh with some booze or tobacco. The nicotine in tobacco is a known vasoconstrictor<\/u><\/a>, meaning it causes the blood vessels to narrow, effectively counteracting weed\u2019s effect on the eyes. Small amounts of alcohol will open up blood vessels, but larger amounts of booze \u2014 as in more than enough to get you shit-faced \u2014 will constrict the blood vessels<\/u><\/a> instead. <\/p>\n

Due to alcohol and tobacco\u2019s seriously negative health effects, it\u2019s not a good idea to mix either of these with your weed. But if you\u2019re already out partying harder than a frat boy after finals, well, just know that you may not end up with demon-red eyes by the end of the night. (You may, however, end up with a toilet full of vomit and a head full of regrets.)<\/p>\n