# "Photic sneeze reflex" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [September 13, 1999, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photic-sneeze-reflex/284 "1999-09-13T20:41:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![SoMoMom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@SoMoMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoMoMom)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 1999, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photic-sneeze-reflex/284/21 "1999-09-29T21:22:00Z")
I have always had that reflex or reaction, whatever you want to call it. I have to wear black lensed sunglasses to drive on sunny or snowy days or I will drive off of the road sneezing. When I was a little kid, I used to say that I was “allergic to the sun” because whenever I walked outside on a sunny day it would throw me into a sneezing fit. ---
**Author:** ![SoMoMom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@SoMoMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoMoMom)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 1999, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photic-sneeze-reflex/284/22 "1999-09-29T21:28:00Z")
Oh, I missed some. My eyes are blue/green and I do suffer from migraines, although not so much since giving updairy. ---
**Author:** ![DavidForster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/71e660/32.png) [@DavidForster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidForster)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 1999, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photic-sneeze-reflex/284/23 "1999-10-04T18:12:00Z")
Okay, one last thing to add to the survey in this dead thread, JUST in case it should suddenly reanimate: night owl or early bird? Thus, we are looking for the following: PSR? - yes or no, if yes: # - single/double/treble (etc.) sneezer; EYE COLOR - light/dark (actual description); MIGRAINES? - if yes, as a child? still?; INTERNAL CLOCK TYPE. For me, then: Yes, I sneeze twice nearly every time. Light eyes - grey with yellow flecks. Migraines, frequent from age ~7 until early teenhood. Night owl - no matter when I rise, I don’t fully wake until ~10am. ---
**Author:** ![Pixoid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Pixoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixoid)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 1999, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photic-sneeze-reflex/284/24 "1999-10-04T19:57:00Z")
Sneeze: single Eyes: brown inner circle, green outer circle. Migraines: no Clock type: Night Owl ---
**Author:** ![Doobieous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Doobieous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doobieous)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 1999, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photic-sneeze-reflex/284/25 "1999-10-05T03:15:00Z")
I am a photic sneezer also. I sneeze when I look at the sun but my room light only causes me to sneeze if i have one that wont come out. My eyes are kind of a medium brown color, ringed with dark brown, and also they have dark brown flecks in them. My sneezes can come in threes, twos, but mostly ones. I also do not get migraines either. ---
**Author:** ![TheIncredibleHolg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@TheIncredibleHolg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheIncredibleHolg)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 1999, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photic-sneeze-reflex/284/26 "1999-10-05T08:01:00Z")
Night owl. So there we have it – we just can’t stand the light of day! With proper science, things get so easy… ---
**Author:** ![Jomolungma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b2d939/32.png) [@Jomolungma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jomolungma)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 1999, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photic-sneeze-reflex/284/27 "1999-10-05T09:22:00Z")
I, too, suffer with this malady, but my case seems to go well beyond those described above. I am most definitely a night owl. Any sunlight triggers a single, violent sneeze, followed by overwhelming fatigue and a sense of deep inner dread. I find it necessary to cloak myself as quickly as possible and seek safety in darkened quarters. What is most effective is a narrow enclosure with a secure cover that is lined with the soil of the Carpathian Mountains as an added shield. Eyes: Black Skin Color: Very, _very_ fair Migraines: Only when denied nourishment ---
**Author:** ![DavidForster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/71e660/32.png) [@DavidForster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidForster)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 1999, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photic-sneeze-reflex/284/28 "1999-10-05T18:41:00Z")
Master, we swore an oath to protect your identity - why do you openly declare yourself? ---
**Author:** ![Jomolungma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b2d939/32.png) [@Jomolungma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jomolungma)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 1999, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photic-sneeze-reflex/284/29 "1999-10-06T09:12:00Z")
_Silence_, Van Helsing! Eat your flies and say no more! ---
**Author:** ![henderson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f6c823/32.png) [@henderson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/henderson)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 1999, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photic-sneeze-reflex/284/30 "1999-10-08T05:44:00Z")
Here’s another kink to this. I don’t sneeze when I encounter light, but I do when I experience a sudden change in temperature. Cold to hot, hot to cold. No cold (illness type), but a lot of sudden sneezing. Embarassing on the bus where everyone thinks I’m spreading disease. But, no. Just that hot/cold thing happening again. Brown eyes, day person ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 1999, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photic-sneeze-reflex/284/31 "1999-10-11T23:54:00Z")
Eyes: blue no migranes, early bird (sorry to disrupt that pattern), number of sneezes varies. Perhaps it is that dust particles are more “active” in the sunlight, triggering the nose-cilia reflex? ---
**Author:** ![missdavis102](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7feea3/32.png) [@missdavis102](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missdavis102)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 1999, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photic-sneeze-reflex/284/32 "1999-10-14T16:40:00Z")
I also experience the photic sneeze reflex, as well as the temperature change thing. Sometimes I even sneeze going into a dark room (like the theater), or as lights dim from relatively bright to very dark. My stats: green eyes, usually treble sneezes (although sometimes double), yes to frequent severe migraines. As for time of day I prefer, I’m pretty groggy all day every day. ---
**Author:** ![SoMoMom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@SoMoMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoMoMom)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 1999, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photic-sneeze-reflex/284/33 "1999-10-24T06:27:00Z")
MK, I have to disagree with the dust particles being more active in sunlight theory. Here’s why. I was driving home from getting my car detailed this week. I had the air conditioner with the micron filtration on. I was already wearing my dark sunglasses. It was a bright day although there were a few clouds in the sky. I had been driving for about 15 minutes when I drove out from under the shadow of cloud into the bright sunlight. “A-CHOO!! A-CHOO!!” It was just the change in light. ---
**Author:** ![InStock21](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5e9695/32.png) [@InStock21](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InStock21)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 1999, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photic-sneeze-reflex/284/34 "1999-11-01T06:14:00Z")
Yep. I’ve got it too. Bright lights or white walls or whatever. It seems to be relative. In a darkened theater, I can get them to come by staring at the little lights along the walkway. On a bright day, I have to look towards the sun or bright white clouds or snow. For me, it does take a few moments for the reflex to occur. It’s not unusual for people to wonder what I’m doing as I stare at a flourescent light, trying to bring up that darn sneeze. I don’t really see it as a problem, though. Actually, I think it’s kinda cool. I’ve got some sense of control over my sneezes. Plus, with all those extra “Bless You’s”, I believe I have my spot secured in heaven. ---
**Author:** ![Rdinning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5fc32e/32.png) [@Rdinning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rdinning)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 1999, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photic-sneeze-reflex/284/35 "1999-11-04T19:17:00Z")
I too am suffer from the Photic sneeze reflex, but treate it as an alergy. However, your other comment about why we close our eyes when we sneeze is the same wrong one I’ve heard too many places. The correct answer is that closing your eyes when you sneeze is a survival trait. Anyone who wears glasses knows that when you sneeze, you sometimes get spots on your glasses. Without the glasses those same dropletts could be on your eyeballs, and since they are highly loaded with bacteria, you have instant eye infection. To our ancestors who lived on the savana of Africa without modern medicine an eye infection would likely be a death sentence. Since sneezes can occur without any warning whatsoever, including when you are facing directly into the wind, this reflex seems an excellent idea to me. * * * ---
**Author:** ![\_Df](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/7ba0ec/32.png) [@\_Df](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_Df)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 1999, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photic-sneeze-reflex/284/36 "1999-11-04T23:34:00Z")
> [@](#): > > The correct answer is that closing your eyes when you sneeze is a survival trait. No argument, except that that’s the answer to a different question. The question here (I thought) was: “If PSR is an inherited trait, there must be some survival value - but what?” A number of respondents indeed speculate that PSR exists to force the eyelids closed (making use of the ‘sneeze = eyes closed first’ rule which you correctly point out has its own survival value) - but that leaves the original question (“What survival value?”) open. Again, I figure that PSR exists to 1) protect our vision from the retinal scarring associated with staring at the Sun, or 2) as a part of some other defense mechanism against light-associated harm (light-triggered migraines, iris cancer, retinally-generated melatonin levels liable to get out of whack, something like that). The “makes you breathe at birth” explanation seems to me to be unlikely, in part because babies have so many other instincts that disappear when they grow. But these WAGs themselves bring up the question, “Why DON’T most people exhibit PSR?” PSR doesn’t confer _much_ survival value, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![\_Df](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/7ba0ec/32.png) [@\_Df](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_Df)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 1999, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photic-sneeze-reflex/284/37 "1999-11-04T23:36:00Z")
By the way, what do you mean when you say you treat it as an allergy? Does that mean you pretty much ignore it, as it goes away fairly quickly, or does it mean that you medicate yourself to prevent it? If so, with what results? ---
**Author:** ![Minxsmom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@Minxsmom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minxsmom)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 1999, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photic-sneeze-reflex/284/38 "1999-11-05T04:23:00Z")
Triple Sneezes Blue Eyes w/ flecks Migranes - very rarely - once or twice a year, although, I have VERY bad sinus problems Definate Night Owl ## and, a twist, this happens only to me and my sister - the light affects no one else in my family - they never even heard of looking at a light to induce a sneeze. **WARNING:** I cannot be held responsible for the above as apparently my cat has learned to type. =^…^= ---
**Author:** ![Phantmwise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/74df32/32.png) [@Phantmwise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phantmwise)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 1999, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photic-sneeze-reflex/284/39 "1999-11-05T17:33:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Anyone who wears glasses knows that when you sneeze, you sometimes get spots on your glasses. Without the glasses those same dropletts could be on your eyeballs, and since they are highly loaded with bacteria, you have instant eye infection. To our ancestors who lived on the savana of Africa without modern medicine an eye infection would likely be a death sentence. Since sneezes can occur without any warning whatsoever, including when you are facing directly into the wind, this reflex seems an excellent idea to me. That’s nonsense. Your tear ducts drain directly into your nose anyway, and presumable carry pathogens from the one into the other, especially under the high-pressure conditions of a sneeze. * * * Phantomwise _…never seen by waking eyes…_ ---
**Author:** ![\_Df](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/7ba0ec/32.png) [@\_Df](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_Df)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 1999, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photic-sneeze-reflex/284/40 "1999-11-05T20:03:00Z")
Phantomwise: I’m only playing devil’s advocate, not defense council for Rdinning, but what if the act of squeezing your eyes shut for the sneeze closed off your tear ducts? (Presumably the drainage itself would keep the bacteria in the sinuses under normal conditions.) Of course, it was common knowledge when I was in elementary school that your eyes closed during a sneeze to keep your eyeballs from popping out of your head…but that’s getting off the topic. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photic-sneeze-reflex/284.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/photic-sneeze-reflex/284.md?page=3)