Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: Andrew Norton on 15/04/2009 17:30:02

Title: What are the white speckles you see when you sneeze?
Post by: Andrew Norton on 15/04/2009 17:30:02
Andrew Norton  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Hi Chris

Why when you sneeze in the dark(after opening your eyes) as it is nigh impossible to sneeze with them open do I see white speckles in front of my eyes?

Kind regards

ANDREW NORTONĀ   

What do you think?
Title: What are the white speckles you see when you sneeze?
Post by: Eldar on 15/04/2009 22:02:18
I think the speckles are appearing because the preassure the sneeze creates in the sinuses.

A sneeze accelerate the air in your lungs up to 200 km/h, and that creates preassure to your blood vessels in your eyes, forcing the blood out of your eyes, and "black-out" the light-sensitive cells for a split-second.

You will get the same effect if you are boxing and gets a hard face/head hit from your opponent.
Title: What are the white speckles you see when you sneeze?
Post by: Chemistry4me on 16/04/2009 02:43:24
I think yor_on has the answer from this thread (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=20154.msg228359#msg228359):

Quote
Anyway, if you close your eyes and press on them with your fingers you will be able to see both shapes and colours, not because there is light coming to them, just because that pressure you are applying on your eyes will be interpreted by the brain as having both shape and colour.

Like Eldar said, the pressure is caused in this case by the sneeze.
Title: What are the white speckles you see when you sneeze?
Post by: thedoc on 21/04/2009 19:22:29
Listen to the answer to this question on our podcast. (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2009.05.02/)
Title: None
Post by: jen on 04/10/2013 14:23:41
so interesting! I see little dots or shapes like music notes when I sneeze. started recently. its scattered and fades towards the right side..... so glad I read this article
Title: None
Post by: PAUL MCKNOCKITER on 12/01/2014 11:15:03
I THINK YOU MEAN ITS IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOU TO SNEEZE WITH YOUR EYES OPEN CHRIS YOU cuddling  IDIOT