It’s a rumor that has circulated in playgrounds around the world for decades: If you sneeze with your eyes open, your eyeballs will pop out. So, is there any truth to that rumor? Dr. David Huston, Professor of Medicine at Texas A&M University, is settling the debate once and for all. Contrary to popular belief, it’s absolutely possible to sneeze with your eyes open, and no……..your eyeballs won’t pop out of your head. Closing your eyes while you blast out a sneeze is simply an autonomic reflex. That means your body does it without you needing to consciously think about it. “The fact that it’s possible to sneeze with the eyes open suggests that it’s not hard-wired or mandatory,” said Dr. Huston. Sneezing is simply your body forcibly expelling air from your lungs through your nose and mouth. This usually happens when something infectious enters your nostrils, whether it’s a virus, an allergen, or a chemical. Some people even experience something called “photic sneezing” — a sneeze triggered by exposure to bright light. The reason for this reflex remains unclear, but Dr. Huston suggests it may be a way to protect your eyes from germs.
