Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: Yates, Alan on 13/12/2008 19:31:54

Title: Why do humans close their eyes when sneezing?
Post by: Yates, Alan on 13/12/2008 19:31:54

Yates, Alan  asked the Naked Scientists:

Hello Naked Scientists,

I have a question for your next Q&A show (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/) -

Why do we close our eyes when we sneeze (and is there any chance you can damage your eyeballs if you don't)?

Regards,

Alan in Sydney

What do you think?

Title: Why do humans close their eyes when sneezing?
Post by: RD on 13/12/2008 22:02:20

I think this blink reflex is to reduce to possibility of the microbe-rich aerosol produced by the sneeze spreading infection to the eyes.

Title: Why do humans close their eyes when sneezing?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 13/12/2008 22:07:24

I remember reading somewhere that your eyeballs will pop out if you don't close your eyes!

Title: Why do humans close their eyes when sneezing?
Post by: rosalind dna on 13/12/2008 22:48:12

You shut your eyes when you sneeze because of the muscles in and around your sinuses also
eyes, nose and forehead,

The same ones that get blocked when you've got a cold or hayfever etc.

Title: Why do humans close their eyes when sneezing?
Post by: RD on 13/12/2008 22:58:18

Quote

Why do my eyes close every time I sneeze?
June 15, 2004

M.G., Sherborn

Actually, no one really knows.

"It is unclear, but scientists theorize that we close our eyes to protect them. We may be protecting our eyes from microorganisms and particles from our sneezes," said Dr. Bonnie Henderson, director of comprehensive ophthalmology at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. But it could also be simply because a sneeze is a kind of bodywide reflex in which a lot of muscles contract, not just in the nose and throat but also those in the diaphragm, the abdomen, thighs, back, even sphincters (which is why some people with stress incontinence may urinate slightly when they sneeze).

http://www.boston.com/news/science/articles/2004/06/15/why_do_my_eyes_close_every_time_i_sneeze/

Title: Why do humans close their eyes when sneezing?
Post by: JnA on 14/12/2008 11:27:09

Quote from: Chemistry4me on 13/12/2008 22:07:24

I remember reading somewhere that your eyeballs will pop out if you don't close your eyes!

I think that's actually impossible with the length of the optical nerve.. though some people's eyes do bulge.

Title: Why do humans close their eyes when sneezing?
Post by: RD on 14/12/2008 11:38:23

Quote from: JnA on 14/12/2008 11:27:09

I think that's actually impossible with the length of the optical nerve.. though some people's eyes do bulge.

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