# If you sneeze with your eyes open, will they really pop out of your head? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 21, 2003, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-sneeze-with-your-eyes-open-will-they-really-pop-out-of-your-head/176476 "2003-05-21T02:52:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![InLikeFlynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f19dbf/32.png) [@InLikeFlynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InLikeFlynn)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-sneeze-with-your-eyes-open-will-they-really-pop-out-of-your-head/176476/1 "2003-05-21T02:52:19Z")
I don’t know if it’s even possible to manually keep your eyelids open due to the strong, lightning fast involuntary auto- motor response signals that the brain generates to prevent events as this from taking place but, is there any documented cases of this phenomenon actually happening? I can’t imagine that the eyeball would actually be dangling from the optic nerve out of its socket or anything that graphic but who knows? Unlikely but, Who Knows? A plausible outcome to me might be some possible damage to the optic nerve and or a detached retina but not much more than that. I can’t find any links on the web referring to this crazy topic but I assume that there has to be some info somewhere. Does any one have any dope proving or disproving this commonly held belief? Thanks a lot, Popeye ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-sneeze-with-your-eyes-open-will-they-really-pop-out-of-your-head/176476/2 "2003-05-21T03:06:19Z")
My grandmother used to tell us that we could avoid getting braces if we pressed on our teeth with our fingers while we watched TV at night. This theory makes about as much sense. There’s a lot more than just your eyelids holding your eyeballs in. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-sneeze-with-your-eyes-open-will-they-really-pop-out-of-your-head/176476/3 "2003-05-21T03:09:41Z")
[Cecil Knows All](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_304.html) ---
**Author:** ![green\_bladder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@green\_bladder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/green_bladder)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-sneeze-with-your-eyes-open-will-they-really-pop-out-of-your-head/176476/4 "2003-05-21T03:11:27Z")
[Cecil has something to say about this](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_304.html) ---
**Author:** ![green\_bladder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@green\_bladder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/green_bladder)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-sneeze-with-your-eyes-open-will-they-really-pop-out-of-your-head/176476/5 "2003-05-21T03:12:32Z")
Ugh… beat me to it… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-sneeze-with-your-eyes-open-will-they-really-pop-out-of-your-head/176476/6 "2003-05-21T03:22:47Z")
It IS possible to hold them open (manually) while you sneeze. I’ve done it myself. It does take some effort and they do still close half way. I’ve decided the reason that they close is so that you never have to see your self sneeze in the mirror. It’s not a real pretty site. And then of course since both your hands are occupied holding your eyelids open, the mirror (or your friends if you’re showing off) get covered with slobber! ---
**Author:** ![InLikeFlynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f19dbf/32.png) [@InLikeFlynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InLikeFlynn)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-sneeze-with-your-eyes-open-will-they-really-pop-out-of-your-head/176476/7 "2003-05-21T03:25:19Z")
SORRY!!! That’s it, I’ve had it! I need some information about Cecil’s columns. Are Cecil’s columns included in the archives when I do a search on a specific topic from the toolbar? I’m missing something here! Again,I’m sorry for the wasted thread. My bad!! Peace ---
**Author:** ![Kalashnikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/2bfe46/32.png) [@Kalashnikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalashnikov)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-sneeze-with-your-eyes-open-will-they-really-pop-out-of-your-head/176476/8 "2003-05-21T04:00:05Z")
It is certainly possible for me to keep my eyes open without using your hands while sneezing. I’ve done it a few times - while riding a motorcycle. I’d rather not close my eyes in some situations. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-sneeze-with-your-eyes-open-will-they-really-pop-out-of-your-head/176476/9 "2003-05-21T06:32:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by InLikeFlynn \* > \*\*SORRY!!! > That’s it, I’ve had it! I need some information about Cecil’s columns. > Are Cecil’s columns included in the archives when I do a search on a specific topic from the toolbar? > I’m missing something here! > Again,I’m sorry for the wasted thread. > My bad!! > Peace \*\* Using the [SDMB Search Engine](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/search.php?) returns only SDMB threads, not Cecil’s columns. To seach for Cecil’s columns (and Staff Reports), you have to use the search engine at the [Straight Dope Archive](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/index.html). ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-sneeze-with-your-eyes-open-will-they-really-pop-out-of-your-head/176476/10 "2003-05-21T16:02:17Z")
The only side effect I’ve had from sneezing with my eyes open is having a glob of snot come out of my eye, which is an experience I never want to relive. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-sneeze-with-your-eyes-open-will-they-really-pop-out-of-your-head/176476/11 "2003-05-21T16:21:57Z")
**voguevixen** : You have got to be kidding me.