Kratom is a substance that has gained attention for its potential to relieve pain, boost energy, and help with anxiety. However, as with many natural and synthetic drugs, it can have side effects, some of which may affect your eyes. The effects Kratom may have depend on dosage–how much you take.
Learn about how Kratom abuse may influence your eye health, including long-term damage, and how treatment may cease further harm and improve eye health. We provide addiction treatment at our Huntington Beach rehab. Contact California Addiction Treatment if you or a loved one needs help with Kratom addiction.
Does Kratom Make Your Pupils Small?
Kratom can also cause your pupils to become smaller, especially at higher doses. Kratom’s effects on the eyes depend on how it interacts with your brain’s opioid receptors. In small doses, Kratom can act as a stimulant, increasing energy and alertness. In this state, your pupils may dilate, similar to what happens when your nervous system becomes activated by stimulant-like effects. However, this dilation is typically mild compared to stronger stimulants or hallucinogens.
At higher doses, Kratom mimics opioids by causing sedation, pain relief, and euphoria. In this case, Kratom can cause pupil constriction, a phenomenon more associated with opioid use.
If you notice your pupils becoming unusually large or small after using Kratom, it could be a sign that your body is reacting strongly to the drug’s effects.
Pupil constriction, known as miosis, is a hallmark sign of opioid use, including substances like Kratom. This constriction happens because Kratom binds to the brain’s mu-opioid receptors, which are the same receptors targeted by traditional opioids like morphine and heroin.
If you’re using Kratom regularly, you may notice that your pupils remain small even in dim lighting, a condition that could lead to problems with night vision or sensitivity to changes in light.
How Do Opioids Affect the Eyes?
Opioids have profound effects on various parts of the body, and the eyes are no exception. One of the most noticeable effects is miosis, where the pupils become constricted. This is because opioids, like Kratom, act on the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing the size of the pupils.
In addition to affecting pupil size, long-term opioid use can contribute to other eye-related issues. Chronic opioid users may experience dry eyes, blurry vision, and in some cases, more severe vision problems. This happens because opioids suppress the body’s natural functions, reducing the production of tears and impacting the muscles that help focus vision.
How Do Opioids Constrict the Pupils?
Opioids cause pupil constriction by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for regulating bodily functions that occur when the body is at rest, such as digestion and pupil size. Opioids bind to specific receptors in the brain that influence these processes, leading to a narrowing of the pupils.
The effect is similar to Kratom, though it might be less intense depending on the dose. High doses of opioids or opioid-like substances, including Kratom, lead to more pronounced miosis.
How Do Opioids Affect Eye Health?
Beyond pupil constriction, long-term opioid use can negatively impact your eye health in several ways:
- Dry Eyes: Chronic opioid users often report experiencing dry eyes due to the body’s decreased production of tears. Dry eyes can cause discomfort, irritation, and blurred vision.
- Blurry Vision: Opioids can impair your ability to focus, leading to periods of blurry vision. This effect is temporary in most cases but can become more frequent with prolonged use.
- Light Sensitivity: Some people who misuse opioids or Kratom may develop sensitivity to light, particularly because their pupils are constantly constricted, limiting the amount of light entering the eye.
- Increased Risk of Eye Infections: Reduced tear production and the subsequent dryness can make your eyes more prone to infections, as tears are part of the body’s defense mechanism for keeping the eyes moist and free from debris.
What Is Eye Miosis?
Miosis is a condition where the pupils become abnormally small, which is commonly seen in people using opioids or opioid-like substances such as Kratom. While this may seem like a minor issue, miosis can lead to a variety of vision problems, including difficulty seeing in low-light conditions. People with miosis might struggle with driving at night or in dimly lit environments because their pupils aren’t dilating enough to allow more light to enter.
In extreme cases, miosis can also be a sign of overdose, particularly if accompanied by other symptoms like slow breathing or extreme drowsiness. If you notice these signs in yourself or a loved one, it’s important to seek medical attention immediately.
How Is Eye Miosis From Opioid Misuse Treated?
Treating miosis from opioid misuse requires addressing the root cause: opioid addiction. In most cases, miosis will resolve on its own once you stop using the substance. However, during recovery, your treatment plan might include:
- Medications to Control Symptoms: Some medications can help ease the discomfort of miosis, such as eye drops to relieve dryness.
- Vision Therapy: In some cases, vision therapy might be recommended to help restore normal function to the eyes.
- Detox Programs: Detox is the first step in addressing opioid addiction. By undergoing medical detox at a rehab center, your body can begin to recover from the effects of opioids, including their impact on your eyes.
How Can Eye Miosis Be Prevented?
The best way to prevent miosis and other eye-related problems associated with opioids is to avoid or limit the use of these substances. If you’re using Kratom, consider speaking with a healthcare professional about your usage and any potential risks to your vision. Regular eye exams can also help detect early signs of damage, allowing for timely intervention.
If you or a loved one are struggling with opioid addiction, seeking professional help is essential to preventing further damage to your health, including your vision. Residential addiction treatment programs like the one at California Addiction Treatment can provide comprehensive care that addresses both the physical and psychological aspects of addiction.
Can Long-Term Drug Use Cause Damage to Your Vision?
Yes, long-term drug use, particularly opioids and opioid-like substances such as Kratom, can lead to permanent damage to your vision. Chronic misuse of these substances can result in a number of problems:
- Permanent Blurred Vision: Over time, your eyes may struggle to adjust to changes in lighting, leading to consistent blurry vision.
- Increased Sensitivity to Light: The constant constriction of your pupils may make your eyes overly sensitive to bright light, causing discomfort during daytime activities.
- Potential for Vision Loss: In severe cases, prolonged opioid misuse may lead to more serious vision issues, including partial or total vision loss.
What Drugs Make Your Pupils Small?
Several drugs can cause pupil constriction, or miosis, due to their impact on the nervous system. While opioids are the most common substances associated with this effect, there are other drugs that can cause similar results:
Opioids like heroin, morphine, oxycodone, and fentanyl are well-known for causing miosis. As these drugs activate the brain’s opioid receptors, the parasympathetic nervous system responds by constricting the pupils. Long-term opioid use can lead to chronic miosis, which can impair vision in low-light conditions.
As discussed earlier, Kratom, especially at higher doses, can mimic opioid effects and cause pupil constriction. Although Kratom isn’t classified as a traditional opioid, its impact on the same brain receptors results in similar physical effects, including small pupils.
Clonidine, a medication used to treat high blood pressure and certain withdrawal symptoms, can cause miosis as a side effect. This happens because clonidine affects the brain’s sympathetic nervous system, leading to a reduction in pupil size.
Barbiturates are sedatives that, when taken in high doses, depress the central nervous system and cause miosis. These drugs are not as commonly used today as they once were, but in cases of overdose or misuse, pupil constriction is often a visible symptom.
While alcohol doesn’t directly cause miosis, it can affect the muscles that control your pupils. Alcohol addiction and heavy drinking can impair the body’s ability to react to changes in light, resulting in both delayed dilation and constriction responses.
Drugs like Xanax, Valium, and Ativan, which belong to the benzodiazepine class, are used to treat anxiety and insomnia. These medications can cause miosis as part of their calming effect on the central nervous system.
Put a Cease to Eye Damage by Conquering Opioid Addiction
At California Addiction Treatment, we understand the toll that opioid addiction can take on your overall health, including your eyes. Our team of experienced professionals in Huntington Beach is here to support you through every step of your recovery. Our residential rehab offers a safe space for medical detox, dual diagnosis care, and long-term recovery, allowing you to overcome addiction and protect your vision before it’s too late.
Taking control of your health today can save you from the long-term damage caused by opioids, including vision loss. We’re here to help you stop the cycle of addiction and start healing—not just your body, but your mind and vision, too. If you’ve been struggling with opioid misuse or Kratom dependence and are concerned about your eye health, reach out to us at California Addiction Treatment.
Together, we can prevent further damage and help you regain control of your life.
