# Sneeze, Why?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneeze-why/491821
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [April 3, 2009, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneeze-why/491821 "2009-04-03T07:12:32Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)
#### Post date: [April 3, 2009, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneeze-why/491821/1 "2009-04-03T07:12:32Z")
Why does looking near the sun, or even near certain lighting cause me to sneeze?
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### Author:  [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)
#### Post date: [April 3, 2009, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneeze-why/491821/2 "2009-04-03T07:19:59Z")
Blame (at least one of) your parents.
[Photic Sneezing](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photic_sneeze) is a dominant genetic trait, and results from some cross-linkage between the trigeminal nerve (responsible for sneezing among other things) and other facial nerves (including the optic nerve).
Si
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### Author:  [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)
#### Post date: [April 3, 2009, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneeze-why/491821/3 "2009-04-03T07:27:37Z")
Wiki…“may also reduce the occurrence of solar sneezes …”
Solar Sneezes!
Now I’m proud to have it! Thanks for the link!
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### Author:  [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)
#### Post date: [April 3, 2009, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sneeze-why/491821/4 "2009-04-03T13:38:45Z")
[The master speaks.](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/527/why-do-some-people-sneeze-when-going-out-into-bright-light)