Cannabis Linked to Increased Risk of Uveitis

By Dr. Kevin -

 

A large study looked at more than 1.1 million cannabis users and compared them with an equal number of people who did not use cannabis. The researchers found that people who use cannabis had a noticeably higher risk of developing uveitis—an inflammatory condition inside the eye that can threaten vision. Overall, cannabis users were about 80% more likely to get uveitis. Some specific and more serious types showed even higher risks, including panuveitis, choroidal degeneration, and retinal vasculitis.

The study suggests several reasons why cannabis might trigger inflammation in the eye. Cannabis affects the body’s endocannabinoid system, which normally helps regulate inflammation. THC and CBD may disrupt this balance. Also, smoking cannabis produces chemicals that cause oxidative stress and irritation in tissues, possibly damaging blood vessels in the eye and weakening the blood-retinal barrier.

Because of these findings, the authors recommend that eye doctors ask about cannabis use when evaluating patients with unexplained uveitis and monitor cannabis-using patients more closely. They caution that as cannabis use becomes more common, the number of people with inflammatory eye disease could increase at the population level.

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