# Why does the sun or some other bright light source sometime's makes us sneeze?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sun-or-some-other-bright-light-source-sometimes-makes-us-sneeze/188911>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 16, 2003, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sun-or-some-other-bright-light-source-sometimes-makes-us-sneeze/188911 "2003-07-16T16:31:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![syjstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@syjstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syjstr)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sun-or-some-other-bright-light-source-sometimes-makes-us-sneeze/188911/1 "2003-07-16T16:31:12Z")

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I was just wondering if anyone knew why it is that we tend to sneeze when we look into the sun or a bright light source such as a lamp etc.? Does the Ocular nerve in our eyes have anything to do with it, being so close to the nasal passage which is used while we sneeze? Thanks all for your suggestions!

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**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sun-or-some-other-bright-light-source-sometimes-makes-us-sneeze/188911/2 "2003-07-16T16:33:47Z")

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Photic Sneeze Reflex.

So a search in Cecil’s Archives, and you’ll find lots of good info.

Good luck!

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**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sun-or-some-other-bright-light-source-sometimes-makes-us-sneeze/188911/3 "2003-07-16T16:36:07Z")

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Eh, I had time, so here’s the link:

[http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_303.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_303.html)

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**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-sun-or-some-other-bright-light-source-sometimes-makes-us-sneeze/188911/4 "2003-07-16T16:37:39Z")

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Here’s [the](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_303.html) link to Cecil’s answer.