Does CBD Make Your Eyes Red?

If you are here because you Googled ‘does CBD make your eyes red,’ you are not alone. This is actually one of the more commonly asked questions about CBD. So common, in fact, that we decided to put together an article about it.

Why a whole article about this one simple subject? Well, because the short answer is no, neither CBD edibles, CBD flower, or indeed any other CBD product will lead to red eyes or watery eyes – but there are caveats and exceptions.

We figured a good explanation might be in order, so let’s get going with a deep dive into this surprisingly regular question and look at a few things relating to red eyes.

Why Do Our Eyes Get Red?

There are obviously plenty of reasons why people occasionally suffer from a little eye redness from time to time. Chief amongst these would be your regular, run-of-the-mill allergies such as hay fever, but there are countless others, of course.

Eye infections always lead to red eyes of some description, as do some of the more serious, quite rare conditions such as glaucoma, a condition that produces quite serious red eyes.

Hangovers are a leading culprit, providing an obvious telltale to a suspicious boss about why you might have been a little late that morning (but then you can always claim you have an infection!) 

Wearing contacts for too long in dry air might be another common reason, especially disposable lenses for more than one day. More often than not, however, it simply indicates that you are a little tired and didn’t get a great night’s sleep. No big deal, and nothing to worry about.

A relatively new and quite prevalent cause of red eye owes to something called Computer Vision Syndrom, also referred to as Digital Eye Strain. This affliction usually hits those of us, at some point in our lives, who happen to spend too long sitting in front of a computer screen, resulting in eye fatigue.

It does not cause you to start viewing things in a robotic Terminator-like fashion, as the name might imply – as fun as that might be.

Whatever the reason, excluding a few nasty conditions here and there, red eyes are mostly quite harmless and will usually clear up with a few eye drops and a little rest.

The Red Eye Stereotype

Most of us have seen the Seth Rogan, Cheech, and Chong, or Big Lebowski movies. In them, we often laugh along as the main character smokes weed and blasts off to another planet.

And there is something you will always notice about our cheerful, high-as-a-kite protagonists in movies like that; they always have red eyes in order to suggest they have been hitting it too hard. The more stoned they seem to get, the redder their eyes seem to appear.

It is, after all, just one of those stereotypes, isn’t it? People who enjoy the occasional THC hit often suffer from red eyes because of it, or so it sometimes seems.

THC vs. CBD

To Hollywood, at least, stoners and red eyes go hand in hand together. And the truth is that consuming THC products can often lead to a particularly intense red eye.

There is a reason for that, and it’s quite a simple one; THC causes the tiny blood vessels in your eyes to dilate, which leads to more blood flow to the eyes, resulting in that heavy redness look.

Obviously, there is a little more science to it than that – but that is the essence of why a THC user might experience bloodshot eyes. An increase in ocular blood flow. Simple and harmless. 

There is a well-known link between THC and CBD, and you are probably aware that they both hail from the same plant. You will also know that they both produce strikingly different end results.

While THC provides a psychoactive derived high feeling, CBD delivers nothing of the sort, providing ample health benefits without any added high sensations. 

Unlike THC, good quality CBD does not contain the active molecule responsible for any of those well-known sensations, either loved or loathed, appreciated or feared.

So does CBD work in the same way as THC?

Well, CBD will not lead to any unwanted euphoric feelings. The only ‘feeling’ you are likely to experience through the consumption of CBD is a reduction in anxiety, a general sense of well-being, and a more relaxed state.

So, they are strikingly different products, essentially. THC, usually consumed by smoking weed, produces a very defined high. Depending on the strength and variety of the product containing THC, the sensation can at times be quite overwhelming – psychedelic, almost.

CBD, on the other hand, is completely safe and produces no unwanted feelings. Certainly nothing even remotely close to psychedelic!

But because of the association between the two compounds, various misconceptions sometimes exist as a result of the link. In other words, it is not uncommon for some people to believe CBD and THC are one and the same. They most certainly are not. Comparing THC to a CBD effect would be like comparing a strong Scotch whiskey to a child’s ginger beer. 

One of the more common misconceptions, owing to this link, is the question of the red eye phenomena. If Cheech and Chong can happily stroll around with red eyes and blurred vision, will the same happen to me?

The answer is an emphatic no. For the most part, CBD products do not contain THC, and as a result, there is no widening of the ocular vessels leading to that stereotypical stoner look.

Regardless of how you prefer to take it – either by smoking our lovely Cherry Diesel CBD Flower, ingesting CBD oil, or munching on a lovely CBD infused gummy bear – eye redness will not be a problem.

However, there are caveats to consider. Let’s look at what they might consist of.

Full Spectrum CBD

As mentioned, CBD products do not contain THC. At least, for the most part. There are CBD options available that contain slight traces of THC, but these will be clearly marked as such, and you will be made aware of the difference when purchasing. So, don’t worry. You are unlikely to pick up full spectrum by mistake.

Basically, full spectrum CBD is a product that contains all of the beneficial molecules for health and well-being but also contains trace amounts of THC, which can provide a boost to how CBD affects you.

These trace amounts are quite low. If consumed in normal, regular amounts, they are unlikely to produce any high, euphoric feelings in the same way that high THC content products. That said, owing to the small THC content, it is possible that you might experience a few side effects more associated with THC products, including red eye.

Benefits of CBD

Whilst THC products can cause the occasional unwanted side effect (largely through overindulging), CBD is incredibly safe and provides an incredible amount of benefits to millions of people. There is a sound reason that CBD has exploded in popularity over the last few years, with people all over the world now using CBD for various ailments.

CBD has long been proven to help with pain relief, depression, post-traumatic stress, lower blood pressure, and even mental health disorders. Above and beyond anything, CBD acts as an incredible anti-inflammatory, reducing the need to take harmless medicine and aiding relief in a far more healthy, natural way.

The best thing about using CBD for health benefits is its apparent lack of any side effects. This really is mother natures way of providing healing and mental stability, all without any consequences.

As always, we would advise you to do your own research, should you feel more comfortable doing so, but through our various blog posts and range of CBD essentials, we have you covered with everything you need.