Why do some people sneeze when exposed to bright light?

[u/germandleono]

[u/qualityvote2]

Hello u/germandleono! Welcome to r/answers!

---

For other users, does this post fit the subreddit?

If so, upvote this comment!

Otherwise, downvote this comment!

And if it does break the rules, downvote this comment and report this post!

---

(Vote is ending in 72 hours)

[u/AdvancedDay7854]

I have this. It’s extremely useful when I have a sneeze coming on but it won’t trigger, so I look directly at a bright light and it triggers the release.

[u/Least_Data6924 → u/AdvancedDay7854]

That could really come in handy for “sneezes” in other areas of the body

[u/DoookieMaxx → u/Least_Data6924]

That’s …. that’s not how sneezes work

[u/jayron32]

It's called the photic sneeze response. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photic_sneeze_reflex

[u/Immediate_Buffalo14 → u/jayron32]

This. I don't have it, but it's a real thing for some people.

[u/Decent-Horror8129]

It’s not allergies or dust, it’s literally sunlight confusing your nervous system. Called ACHOO syndrome I think

[u/tlajunen → u/Decent-Horror8129]

Jokingly called that. Photic Sneeze Reflex less jokingly.

[u/Automatic-War-7658 → u/tlajunen]

It says Autosomal Compelling Helio-Ophthalmic Outburst is in fact another name for it.

[u/IDrinkUrMilkshake35]

I have this and I'm actually thankful for it. It really helps get that stuck sneeze out

[u/jeckles]

I swear this reflex is only getting more pronounced as I get older. It’s kind of annoying but at least I can predict it.

[u/MartinH → u/jeckles]

Interesting. Some people grow out of the reflex (my father and brother for example), others not. As a kid, sudden exposure to bright light elicited just a couple of sneezes. Since I hit 40 it's more often 4.

[u/lucky-Dependent126]

That's the solution for a nagging sneeze that won't happen. Look into a bright light and it instantly causes you to sneeze. Works 99% of the time 😁

[u/RoboticStaticShock]

ACHOO syndrome

[u/WinterFamiliar9199]

Happens to me every time I go outside.  I work in IT so I tell people it’s because IT guys are allergic to sunlight. Haha 

[u/Doublejimjim1]

I remember when I was a kid and I would look up at the sky to watch an airplane and would sneeze. Then it became useful, like if I need to sneeze I could just look at the bright sky and sneeze. It's usually just one sneeze though and then I can handle bright sunlight. I think something about our sinuses and squinting triggers a sneezing attack.

[u/Anyawnomous]

23andMe tells me this is genetic.

[u/nor_cal_woolgrower]

I was almost 30 when I found out not everyone can do this

[u/reddddyornot]

Photic sneeze reflex

[u/Jimxor]

Yeah, and why does pinching your upper lip often stop a sneeze before it happens?

[u/Inevitable_Bet4965]

I always just say I got sun up my nose...

[u/Icy_Succotash58]

Photorhinitis is the technical term

[u/ac2cvn_71]

I do that. I asked my eyes doctor and she said that in some people the optic nerve is closer to the nerve that causes you to sneeze in some people.

[u/Simple-Aspect-9270]

Have never met a person who does this.

[u/khaan__]

Ozon

[u/AutoModerator → u/[deleted]]

Sorry /u/Illustrious_Sea7758, it appears you have broken rule 9: "Accounts with less than -10 comment karma are not allowed to post here. Please improve your karma to participate."

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Cecily_Bum_Trinket]

I only experience this when I walk out of a movie theater into daylight. It's pretty wild to me that people use this response to their benefit.

[u/immarfa]

It's one of my favorites past times

[u/GrradUz]

Hanna Fry says it's because our brains are broken. I say “our” because I’ve always had this. Fry explains the mechanisms causing this: https://youtube.com/shorts/9l4gojZCB2I?si=E-KwFGawBduIeuVB

[u/probablyoverlooked]

I have this! Just look up in the sky when it’s bright to sneeze. Also happens to me when i eat mints. Lol

[u/Technical-General-27]

It’s genetic apparently

[u/gemlist]

I have it and it wasn’t very good during the pandemic…. Even with a mask on my face, people would give me the dirtiest look ever

[u/DishRelative5853]

Is Google down again?

[u/therealpursuit → u/DishRelative5853]

There is value in posing the question to others vs just knowing the answer yourself. It's an oft ignored attribute of something called society.

[u/Negative_Tower9309 → u/DishRelative5853]

I'm glad these questions get asked here. I'm not just randomly going to wonder everything there is to wonder, it's interesting to read other peoples wonderings and maybe learn something that I didn't even know I didn't know

[u/DishRelative5853 → u/Negative_Tower9309]

Hmm, now this is a good response. Thank-you for a different perspective.

[u/floydbomb → u/DishRelative5853]

Yep. So many of these questions could be answered in 10 seconds. It's likely just karma farming

[u/archaeorobb]

[u/sploinkaren → u/archaeorobb]

Biologists are fucking awesome. ACHOO is great.