Why does getting the sun or a bright light in your eyes make you sneeze,

1. 91

   DzyMsLizzyposted 11 years ago

   Why does getting the sun or a bright light in your eyes make you sneeze,
   
   or stimulate and produce a 'stuck' sneeze?

   report
2. 84

   BraidedZeroposted 11 years ago

   Just spit-balling here... maybe your body does it because you always close your eyes when you sneeze. It's your body involuntarily forcing you to close your eyes and look away from the sun. Just an idea... not sure what the real answer is...

   report
3. 0

   JThomp42posted 11 years ago

   Sudden bright stimulation of the eye that occurs after a person has become adapted to darker surroundings is thought to bring on the condition, known as photic sneeze reflex. The reflex also is called Autosomal Dominant Compelling Helioophthalmic Outburst Syndrome, known by the acronym ACHOO. (Not making this up. Really.)

   report
4. 64

   artist101posted 11 years ago

   
   
   It is a b complex deficiency, as well as sensitivity to light. Among the other symptoms include lack of dream recall, (B6). numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, sensitivity to noise, not able to adapt to stress, dizziness, hair loss, sore mouth, low blood pressure, burning feet, PMS, poor memory, and confusion, just to name a fewhttp://artist101.hubpages.com/hub/The-Benefits-of-the-B-Vitamins-For-More-Than-Just-Stress. Makes me wanna sneeze just thinking about it!!

   report
   1. 56

      Subrisusposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      The link you provided is broken (404 error), but I'm not sure why. I found the article under your name and the address looks the same. Lets try again: http://artist101.hubpages.com/hub/The-B … ust-Stress

      report
   2. 64

      artist101posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      thank you Subrisus!! Probably because I didn't put a space between the link, and few. Cant edit, so thank you so much!!! for your help!!

      report
5. 78

   Neinahpetsposted 11 years ago

   Not everyone has this, and only about 18-35% of people are afflicted by "sun sneezing"  Sun sneezing is the photic sneeze reflex (also known as photoptarmosis). 
   
   What it is, is basically a condition of uncontrollable sneezing in response to numerous stimuli, such as looking at bright lights or periocular (surrounding the eyeball) injection.  It's not just a light stimulation reflex.
   
   I find the condition to be very strange.  I find, and many others I've known find, that looking directly into a bright light or bulb when you're unable to STOP sneezing will stop a sneezing fit.

   report
   1. 91

      DzyMsLizzyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Oh, I had not thought of a reverse reaction--I'll have to try that the next time my hay fever has me sneezing my head off!  ;-)

      report
   2. 78

      Neinahpetsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      It doesn't always work for my husband, but it works great for me!  I'm so thankful for the trick because I get into sneezing fits

      report
6. 89

   Sharyn's Slantposted 11 years ago

   Interesting question!  I'm going to follow to see what else is said. 
   
   When I feel sneezes coming on but they become "stuck" - I can literally just look at a bright light or even just "think" about looking at a bright light, and the sneezes will come.
   
   I also always sneeze 6 times in a row.  No more, no less.
   
   And my sneezes actually sound like coughs.  Weird, I know

   report
7. 69

   theryanprideposted 11 years ago

   known as the photic sneeze reflex.A connection between bright light and sneezing. It has a name but you’re not going to believe it: Autosomal Dominant Compelling Helio-Ophthalmic Outburst or ACHOO Syndrome.

   report
   1. 92

      IslandBitesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      We learn something everyday. It happens to me all the time, but I have always thought it got something to do with sudden change of temperature or something like that. LOL  So, now I know. haha Thanks.

      report
8. 0

   jonnycomelatelyposted 11 years ago

   Trying to recall studies from my radiography training days, I believe the Trigeminal Nerve (this is the 5th Cranial Nerve), has one of its branches, the Ophthalmic Nerve, that takes sensations from the upper eye lid, the cornea, and the nasal mucosa.
   When strong light strikes the eye, any irritation in that region can be mistaken as occurring in another adjacent region.  So the mucus lining of the nasal cavity will sense an irritation there and initiate the sneezing reflex.
   Maybe someone better qualified in this will correct me or confirm.

   report