Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a chemical component present in marijuana and hemp, being marketed as a potential cure for various ailments.
These are available in multiple forms like CBD gummies, oils, creams, etc., to treat different conditions. Studies suggest that CBD from CBDFx does not decrease eye pressure; it raises it. Glaucoma, however, is one such condition that we cannot treat from CBD.
An organization of eye doctors in a recent study recommended patients not to use CBD as a treatment for Glaucoma as high eye pressure can trigger it.
Here’s everything you should know about CBD & its effects on the eyes.
Glaucoma is characterized by high eye pressure and damage to the optic nerve. Glaucoma can affect people of all ages and cause blindness, although those aged 40 above are at a higher risk. As medicinal marijuana becomes more mainstream, more people are interested in the idea that marijuana or CBD oil can help with this eye ailment.
Is medical marijuana or CBD for Glaucoma effective?
Medicinal experts say that CBD for Glaucoma is not an effective treatment. This holds true for all types of medical marijuana, especially CBD-based products. Some types of medical marijuana can increase the symptoms and damage the eyes.
In the minimal medical research on marijuana and eye pressure, THC, not CBD, was found to temporarily lower IOP (intraocular pressure). The impact, however, does not last long enough to be called an effective medical treatment. Moreover, marijuana tends to be addictive.
Medical studies have found that CBD in medical marijuana can boost intraocular (eye) pressure while also reducing blood flow. All these factors have the potential to harm the optic nerve.
Studies conducted to prove the effect of CBD for Glaucoma
According to Indiana University experts, a major chemical component in the drug appears to aggravate the disease’s principal cause: increased eye pressure.
Cannabidiol, or CBD, a non-psychoactive component of cannabis, is rapidly being marketed to customers in the form of oil, candies, lotions, and food. Many states in the United States have also licensed it as a therapy for epilepsy in children. The findings were published in the journal Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science on December 14th.
“This research raises critical concerns regarding the link between the key chemicals in cannabis and their effect on the eye,” stated Alex Striker, an associate scientist in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Indiana University Bloomington.
As per the study conducted on mice, CBD induced an 18% increase in intraocular pressure for 4 hours after consumption. If left untreated, this is a chronic illness that leads to tunnel vision and eventually blindness. Other types of Glaucoma might appear unexpectedly, and some of them are medical emergencies that require immediate surgery.
The majority of patients who develop Glaucoma did not experience any symptoms. An optometrist or ophthalmologist will identify high fluid pressure throughout your regular eye check-up and do additional tests to assess any potential vision loss. They will next prescribe medical therapy, such as eye drops or surgery, to help you regain your eyesight. While it is impossible to restore lost vision, it can slow open-angle Glaucoma.
As reported previously, tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the principal psychoactive element in marijuana, successfully lowered ocular pressure. However, when CBD was combined with THC, the study discovered that this effect didn’t work.
Results of the study conducted
According to the above research, male mice had a roughly 30% drop in eye pressure eight hours after being exposed to THC alone. The male mice showed a 22% smaller decline in blood pressure after 4 hours.
However, the female mice had a weaker effect. After 4 hours, this group’s blood pressure had only dropped by 17%. After 8 hours, there was no difference in eye pressure.
The findings show that females are less influenced by THC, though that is unclear if this applies to the drug’s psychoactive effects. CBD appears to aggravate ocular pressure, the primary probable risk for Glaucoma and worsens eye pressure. These are both crucial components of this research, according to Striker. It’s also worth noting that CBD appears to offset the benefits of THC strongly.
The researchers were able to determine the two particular neuroreceptors called CB1 and GPR18. Through this, the first substance dropped pressure inside the eye by comparing the effects of these compounds on mice without specific neuroreceptors activated by THC and CBD. The Striker also explained that the findings found 45 years ago could have far-reaching consequences for future studies into the use of CBD as an eye pressure treatment.
Alternative forms of marijuana have been shown to harm the eyes in medical studies
There are new ways to consume medical cannabis that are less addictive. Lozenges, gummies, topical oils, and creams have all been introduced to lower the risk of becoming high while still providing potential medicinal benefits.
Consequently, these latest medical marijuana treatments do not function to reduce eye pressure. Eye drops containing THC were shown in research not to affect eye pressure. A further study discovered that smoking marijuana reduced eye pressure and that the amount of cannabis consumed reduced IOP in detectable ways, but consuming more cannabis did not result in longer-lasting effects. Even after three to four hours, the body had ingested THC’s peak effects.
Medical marijuana doesn’t help to maintain consistent low eye pressure, which is essential to prevent optic nerve damage since the effects on IOP endure only a few hours.
We associate marijuana with an increase in optic nerve damage in some research. The use of cannabis reduces blood flow in the body. The optic nerve would begin to die when it does not receive sufficient oxygen through the bloodstream, resulting in additional eyesight loss. In the study of CBD oil in laboratory rats, researchers discovered a perplexingly detrimental result. Because THC appears to be the molecule that lowers IOP, medical marijuana with less THC may be harmful to your eyes.
Conclusion
Let’s not raise a new generation of youngsters and adults who will lose their vision due to preventable causes. Just do an appropriate study to evaluate the eye’s safety before trying any CBD use. No proper evaluation in a human model has been conducted to see if CBD is safe for the visual system.
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