Does Delta-8 Make Your Eyes Red?

There’s nothing better than enjoying hemp on a Saturday night, but let’s be honest—sometimes we don’t wait for the evening.

However, it doesn’t matter what time of day it is—no one wants to be left with reddish eyes or the scent that hemp can leave behind.

You likely change your clothes, take a shower, or chew some gum to avoid drawing anyone’s attention, except sometimes we forget about our eyes.

While there is no guarantee that you will experience this, it has been widely reported to occur.

If you’re not a fan of looking like you didn’t get a good night’s sleep, use the techniques below to prevent your eyes from turning red. But first, let’s find out what causes it.

What Causes Your Eyes to Get Red

Looking in the mirror a few minutes after you smoked, you may have noticed that your eyes are red and glossy. Have you ever wondered why?

It’s common to assume that it is irritation from the smoke, but this isn’t the only contributing factor.

To grasp this fully, let’s touch base on how cannabinoids affect the human body.

Nearly every animal, including humans, have an endocannabinoid system (ECS). This system influences and affects our internal biological functions in learning and memory, reproduction, growth and development, and regulating appetite.

To do this, the human body naturally produces compounds called “endocannabinoids” to send signals throughout it.

One of the endocannabinoids is called “anandamide.” Anandamide has a similar structure to THC, which allows it to interact with the receptors of the ECS (CB1 and CB2 receptors).

Once these compounds bind to the cannabinoid receptors, it will widen the blood vessels, increasing blood flow, hence decreasing blood pressure.

When this happens, the increase in blood flow will cause your eyeball to appear irritated and red.

Ways to Prevent Your Eyes from Getting Red

Whether you consume hemp via tinctures, edibles, or smoking, as soon as it hits your system, you’re going to have effects—including red eyes.

It usually takes a few hours for it to subside on its own. But if you don’t have the time to wait, we have a couple of tips to combat this common occurrence.

Eye Drops

If your first instinct is to use eye drops, you are right on target.

Eye drops are essential if you plan on being in a large gathering of people. You can purchase eye drops at your local pharmacy or grocery store.

Simply take a drop or two before and after you consume hemp, and watch it quickly soothe your eyes. After a few minutes, you can confidently enter a room knowing your eyes are crystal clear.

NOTE: For those that wear eye makeup, try using drops before wearing any to avoid ruining your mascara or other cosmetics on your face.

Use An Ice Pack

Cold compresses are used as a home remedy to treat various eye problems. This is because cold temperature will reduce redness by shrinking the blood vessels around the eye.

Using something cold will minimize the redness and make your eyes less noticeable.

So grab an ice pack, cold, wet towel, or a bag of frozen vegetables and hold it against them for up to 10 minutes.

Drink Water

Being dehydrated will only worsen the redness, along with causing other health issues.

To ensure you are hydrated, make sure to steer away from drinking alcohol or too much caffeine. Prior to consuming hemp, drink plenty of water, as this may help with your eyes and any dry mouth you may experience.

Stick To Flower With a Lower Delta-8 Concentration

While picking the flower with the highest amount of Delta-8 may seem ideal, it may be unnecessary. If you are known to have reddish eyes after using hemp, it is best to choose a product with a lower concentration of Delta-8. You will still feel effects, but your eyes may not be as affected.

Wait it Out

Although we have given you many tools to work with, there is a possibility that you don’t have them. With this in mind, if your options are limited, you can always put on some sunglasses or act like you are dealing with allergies. While this isn’t the perfect route, it may give you some time until your eyes resolve on their own.

Final Thoughts

Dealing with red eyes is just one of the many common effects hemp consumers experience. Using the techniques above, with a bit of planning, can help manage some of the redness. But if you take in any of the tips above, the best thing you can do for yourself is invest in some eye drops.