Change in Refractive Error Associated With the Use of Cannabidiol Oil

Cannabinoid (CBD) products have gained popularity since their legalization in 2018, causing a plethora of unregulated CBD products to be sold in the United States. These products are available in various combinations for topical and oral consumption, claiming credit for potentially improving various diseases. In this report, we present a newfound case reporting a shift in refraction that may be associated with the regular use of CBD oil supplements. A 57-year-old woman with a history of diabetes mellitus type 2, hyperlipidemia, obstructive sleep apnea, with no change in medications, diet, or lifestyle was found to have a hyperopic shift in vision with the recent daily addition of CBD oil intake. This case report highlights the possible association of CBD oil and vision changes after regular consumption of CBD oil in an otherwise stable patient. Further study is required to understand the mechanisms of CBD oil-associated shift in refractive error. Because the patient is diabetic and the refraction shift was hyperopic, other etiologies, such as un-noted lenticular change, cannot be ruled out. CBD products are unregulated and marketed in many mixed forms, and thus can cause unforeseen effects on susceptible individuals. This warrants Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation of such products and extensive research before considering them for therapeutic usage.