Otherwise known as ACHOO syndrome, despite the word dominant in the name (pretty dumb, isn’t it?), Autosomal Dominant Compelling Helio-Ophthalmic Outburst Syndrome is the name for a crazy sneezing reflex that 20-30% of people (myself included) experience when they look into a bright light. Photic sneeze reflex is another, much less stupidous name for this. I am not a fan of backronyms… I got this BS from my dad.
(I’ve got a cold, so I was Googling about sneezes for no particular reason.)
There isn’t a name that I know of for sneezing when plucking your eyebrows, but I’m afflicted with that one, too, and so are plenty of other poor women, says Google. God bless us. I sneeze two or three times in the sun, usually when it hits my eyes at a certain angle while I’m driving (not cool, since sneezing makes your eyes close — Wikipedia says that I wouldn’t be allowed to be a combat pilot for the same reason), but two or three times for every hair I pluck near the insides of my brows is just freakin’ annoying!
SO, yea, that “backronym” is all over the place. Quite a few people willing to spread around half truths.
Quite frustrating. The reason for the sneeze is the irritation of the eyes, often accompanied with looking up.
Its really simple. Its funny to hear children say they are allergic to light etc. But the truth is; your irritated eyes tear, the tears run down your tear ducts quickly and affect your nasal cavity causing a sneeze. Same reason your nose runs when you cry.
SO, yea, that “backronym” is all over the place. Quite a few people willing to spread around half truths.
Quite frustrating. The reason for the sneeze is the irritation of the eyes, often accompanied with looking up.
Its really simple. Its funny to hear children say they are allergic to light etc. But the truth is; your irritated eyes tear, the tears run down your tear ducts quickly and affect your nasal cavity causing a sneeze. Same reason your nose runs when you cry.
Wikipedia says
I favour the first theory as well (at least, I disfavour the second one). I don’t notice my eyes tear when this happens to me. Plus, it is indeed a nearly instantaneous reaction. Same with eyebrow plucking. I definitely feel the tickle of a sneeze coming on immediately after yanking a hair out. No delay.
But don’t tell me what the truth is. Nobody knows.
Do you really think that children mean to be taken literally when they say that they’re “allergic to light”? I never did, when I said it, even though the sun also gives me, along with a nasty burn (and never a tan), an annoying intchy rash. I meant it as a hilarious joke (later to become more hilarious, when I started dressing entirely in black — just one more obvious proof that I am a vampire, in addition to my fangs).
Wikipedia says
I favour the first theory as well (at least, I disfavour the second one). I don’t notice my eyes tear when this happens to me. Plus, it is indeed a nearly instantaneous reaction. Same with eyebrow plucking. I definitely feel the tickle of a sneeze coming on immediately after yanking a hair out. No delay.
But don’t tell me what the truth is. Nobody knows.
Do you really think that children mean to be taken literally when they say that they’re “allergic to light”? I never did, when I said it, even though the sun also gives me, along with a nasty burn (and never a tan), an annoying intchy rash. I meant it as a hilarious joke (later to become more hilarious, when I started dressing entirely in black — just one more obvious proof that I am a vampire, in addition to my fangs).
You are probably right about the first theory being the right one.
At least that’s the conclusion reached by a group of “sufferers” who have put together a small site pooling information on photic sneezing : http://www.photic-sneezing.fr.st/
Your remark on the sun hitting the eye at a certain angle is also quite right – peripheral stimulation seems to be more effective than direct.
The time taken between the light hitting the eyes and the actual sneeze seems to vary greatly between individuals, though people who are particulary sensitive to light seem to react much more quickly.
You are probably right about the first theory being the right one.
At least that’s the conclusion reached by a group of “sufferers” who have put together a small site pooling information on photic sneezing : http://www.photic-sneezing.fr.st/
Your remark on the sun hitting the eye at a certain angle is also quite right – peripheral stimulation seems to be more effective than direct.
The time taken between the light hitting the eyes and the actual sneeze seems to vary greatly between individuals, though people who are particulary sensitive to light seem to react much more quickly.
I sneeze repeatedly [8-10 times] after a heavy meal.Light is not a factor.