Cannabis and vision: How can it affect our vision?
Do you have long-term vision problems and are you interested in what effect cannabis use can have on visual system disorders? Do you think the effect of marijuana on visual abilities is positive or negative? The truth is that cannabis has been researched for decades for its potential medicinal properties effect on various health problems, including those associated with visual impairment such as glaucoma and others.
In the Czech Republic, roughly a third of people wear prescription glasses or contact lenses. On a global scale, however, more than 60% of the population suffers from an eye defect. However, many patients avoid treatment and visit the doctor only when there is no point. It is a paradox because loss of vision or reduced vision is a serious complication that can turn life upside down. Eye hygiene is the absolute basis for an overall healthy lifestyle. Sufficient rest and simple exercises can delay complications. The effect of cannabis on vision and the visual system is a complex topic, so research in this area is still ongoing. Some basic aspects of cannabis' effects on vision include color perception, psychological effects and pupil dilation.
Tips to improve your eyesight
As with all other senses, sight must be taken care of in order to keep it as intact as possible for as long as possible. Therefore, we bring you several tips on how you can benefit your eyesight so that you can still see like a lynx even in old age.
- A healthy diet
- Eye exercises
- Gentle massage of the belly of the fingers
- Enough sleep
- Reinforcement by reading
- Quality glasses (sunglasses and prescription glasses with anti-reflective type)
- Regular moisturizing
- Spend less time looking at your phone screen or computer monitor
- Regular use CBD
Visual impairment vs CBD
Eye disorders can arise for a variety of reasons and have a variety of causes. These are factors influenced by our genetics, age, infection or injury. An unhealthy lifestyle or systematic diseases, such as diabetes, are no exception.
CBD and glaucoma
Glaucoma refers to a series of eye disorders associated with an imbalance of intraocular pressure and the associated loss of retinal ganglion cells, nerve damage and vision loss leading to possible blindness. Research shows that the release of excess glutamate causes ischemic toxicity and cell death. CBD can act as a non-toxic antioxidant by reducing the production of oxygen compounds. In studies on CBD and vision, it has been shown to protect against glutamate-induced retinal damage by preventing the formation of lipid peroxides, nitrite and nitrate compounds, and nitrotyrosine, which is the physiological basis for glaucoma. Treatment may include pressure-lowering medication, laser therapy, or surgery, depending on the severity and type of glaucoma. It is important to catch glaucoma at an early stage, because if not treated properly, it can lead to permanent vision damage and, in extreme cases, blindness.
Cannabis as a cure for glaucoma patients?
When it comes to the specific use of cannabis or its components, such as CBD, for glaucoma patients, the situation is complex. Glaucoma is a disease that is associated with increased intraocular pressure, which can cause damage to the optic nerve and gradual loss of vision. Therefore, it is important to carefully consult an ophthalmologist or ophthalmologist in order to choose the appropriate treatment.
Pitfalls of alternative treatments
Medicines and other methods used in the treatment of glaucoma have one common task: to reduce the pressure inside the diseased eye. This is mainly to relieve the optic nerve, whose damage can cause permanent deterioration or loss of vision. One of the often mentioned alternative methods of treating glaucoma is to use the effects of marijuana, as smoking high-potency cannabis is known to lower intraocular pressure.
However, treatment with the help of marijuana also has some pitfalls: The positive effect on reducing intraocular pressure only lasts for about 3 to 4 hours, therefore, to achieve a satisfactory therapeutic effect, it would be necessary to smoke marijuana about 6 to 8 times a day. For obvious reasons, patients treated in this way would not be allowed to drive a car, and their overall mental performance would also be understandably lower. Smoking marijuana, like smoking ordinary cigarettes, damages the lungs. In addition, long-term and frequent use of marijuana in excessive amounts can damage the brain. Therefore, CBD oils and drops, or other legal ones, are offered as an interesting alternative hemp products, which do not have a major negative effect on memory and the brain as such. It is exactly the opposite.
Effects of CBD on vision
CBD has been studied in the context of various health conditions, including some eye diseases: for skin problems you can use topical preparations, for resistance to the taste of drops capsules or CBD candies. For eye disease, topical use is taboo. The oil would not penetrate the barrier of the cornea and sclera. Two to three drops under the tongue are almost immediately absorbed into the bloodstream and begin to act preventively in the body and on all places that show pain, tension, pressure or impaired functions. A positive result was also associated with the use of THC. However, the improvement (a 28% reduction in blood pressure) was only temporary in the case of tetrahydrocannabinol and wore off after about four hours, as did most of the other effects.
In the Czech Republic, in addition, products with a THC content above 1% (in many neighboring states the standard limit is even 0.2-0.6%) are illegal. A 2016 Canadian study focused on the endocannabinoid system, specifically its effects on the eyes and vision, when tested on monkeys. Endocannabinoids bound to receptors can slightly improve vision and protect the retina, regulate pressure and counteract the development of retinopathy. CBD is a powerful antioxidant, so it can protect the eyes and slow down age-related macular degeneration.
Cannabis has been researched for decades for its medicinal potential to address both psychological and physical ailments. It may therefore offer some benefits for some vision disorders as well. However, it should be noted that the effectiveness of cannabis may depend on the type of visual impairment, its stage and the individual response of the patient. Therefore, you should always consult your doctor about the use of (CBD) cannabis.
Do you need help?
If anything is not clear to you and/or you want advice on the selection, please write to us below in the comments below the post, via contact form or send us a question by e-mail info@miralecbd.cz. Thank you.
Sources: https://opto.ca/eye-health-library/how-does-marijuana-affect-vision
https://www.aao.org/eye-health/news/studies-look-at-effects-of-marijuana-on-vision
NOTICE: Cannabis and kratom products are exclusively for collector, industrial and technical purposes. Alternatively for further sale and processing. In no case are they intended for consumption, inhalation or smoking! The described effects are purely informative. Company Miracle CBD does not approve or otherwise support the abuse and sale of psychotropic and narcotic substances!