Here’s Lookin’ At You: CBD + Eye Health

CBD oil is becoming more and more popular as a natural remedy for a variety of health issues — stress, pain, nausea, and more. But what about CBD and eye health?

Can this cannabinoid help improve our vision? In this blog post, we explore the world of CBD and eye health to see if this plant-based compound can help improve our vision.

All Eyes On CBD

The world is beginning to open its eyes to the potential benefits of CBD. Cannabidiol, which is found in the cannabis plant, has been shown to provide relief for a variety of issues, ranging from pain and inflammation to anxiety and insomnia.

CBD research has yielded a ton of promising results when it comes to the potential benefits of this cannabinoid. For example, CBD:

• Has anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties.(1)
• Seems to be an antibacterial compound.(2)
• Exhibits neuroprotective qualities.(3)

So naturally, people are now wondering if CBD offers any benefits for the eyes.

What Eye Want To Know About CBD: CBD & Eye FAQs

Every day, folks flock to our site to learn more about this popular cannabinoid. Recently, we've seen an uptick in the number of people searching for information on CBD and eye health.

Here are some of the common questions peeps have about CBD and eye health.

Can CBD Dry Your Eyes?

A potential side effect of CBD includes cotton-mouth, aka dry-mouth.(4) It might lead to dry eyes, too. It’s usually associated with THC, but could potentially happen with higher doses of CBD.

To prevent this, just take it low and slow. And consider eye drops if you experience any dryness.

Does CBD Make Your Eyes Red?

Again, this is typically a THC-side effect. It's thought that when THC enters the bloodstream, it can cause blood vessels in your eyes to dilate. This could result in "bloodshot" eyes.

CBD doesn't seem to produce this same effect, so it looks like you're in the clear.

Is CBD Safe Or Dangerous For Your Eyes?

We know that CBD is considered a safe product for healthy adults.(5)

Though it might cause some side effects like nausea, fatigue, and irritability. Anyone using CBD should also consult with his or her doctor first to make sure it does not interfere with any current medications.

But is CBD good or bad for the eyes? There's not much info out there that suggests that consuming CBD is harmful to our eyes. At the same time, there's not a lot of strong proof that it has strong eye benefits.

Let's scan through the research.

CBD & Eye Research

Cannabis research has long been hindered by the plant's federally-illegal status. However, that’s beginning to change.

With hemp now legalized in the United States, we’re starting to see a surge in cannabis research. But, it still means that studies on CBD and eye health are relatively limited.

That said, there are a few things you should know.

Is CBD Good For Glaucoma?

Research shows that cannabinoids like CBD have neuroprotective properties that might help support optic nerve health.(6)

However, the research specifically on CBD is sparse. Some research has demonstrated that cannabidiol alone might increase intraocular pressure (IOP). For instance, in one study mice given a higher dose of CBD showed increased IOP.(7) But we have yet to find any links between CBD and glaucoma.

Cannabis & Glaucoma

Other studies have shown that marijuana can reduce intraocular pressure — as well as conventional glaucoma medication.(8)

THC might be the main cannabinoid that aids in reducing IOP. THC may have the most potential for treating glaucoma, but more research is needed to confirm this.(9)

From what we know now, when it comes to eye health, it seems like full-spectrum CBD may be a better choice than isolate or broad-spectrum CBD.

Eye Want Only The Best CBD Products

If you've got your eyes on a bottle of CBD oil, make sure you're getting the best quality product possible. Look for a few key things:

• A full-spectrum CBD so you can take advantage of THC's potential eye benefits.
• A short and sweet ingredient list with zero unwanted chemicals.
• 100% natural CBD derived from organic, USA-grown hemp.
• Third-party lab results (in the certificate of analysis) that you can find easily on the company's website, showing you the cannabinoid content.
• A company that's open and transparent about its manufacturing processes.

Do your research, ask questions, and you’ll mega-boost your chances of finding a top-notch CBD product.

CBD & Eye Health: Bringing It All Into Focus

People are using CBD to help with everything from anxiety and pain relief to better sleep and skin health. So it's not surprising the world is turning its gaze to CBD's effects on eye health.

Does CBD have benefits for eye health? Our eyes are wide open, scanning the scientific literature for an answer. But not a lot has come into view quite yet.

There's a bit more evidence linking THC and eye wellness, but not much when it comes to CBD specifically. It's clear that cannabinoids like CBD can have an impact on eye pressure, but more research is needed to understand the exact and long-term effects.

FEAST YOUR EYES ON THESE CBD PRODUCTS

References

1. Atalay, S, et al. (2019). Antioxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Cannabidiol. Antioxidants. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9010021
2. Blaskovich, M, et al. (2021). The antimicrobial potential of cannabidiol. Communications biology. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-020-01530-y
3. Iuvone, T, et al. (2004). Neuroprotective effect of cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive component from Cannabis sativa, on beta-amyloid-induced toxicity in PC12 cells. Journal of neurochemistry. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-4159.2003.02327.x
4. Gould, W. (2022). The Potential Side Effects of CBD. VeryWell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/potential-side-effects-of-cbd-5072819
5. (2021). CBD products are everywhere. But do they work? Harvard Health Publishing. https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/cbd-products-are-everywhere-but-do-they-work
6. Rapino, C, et al. (2018). Neuroprotection by (endo)Cannabinoids in Glaucoma and Retinal Neurodegenerative Diseases. Current neuropharmacology. https://doi.org/10.2174/1570159X15666170724104305
7. Tomida, I, et al. (2006). Effect of sublingual application of cannabinoids on intraocular pressure: a pilot study. Journal of glaucoma. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.ijg.0000212260.04488.60
8. Mack A, et al. (2000). Marijuana as Medicine? The Science Beyond the Controversy. National Academies Press. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK224386/
9. Ashton, L. (2021). CBD and Glaucoma: Does It Help Reduce Eye Pressure? CFAH. https://cfah.org/cbd-and-glaucoma