[Texas_Jarhead]

Hey what-do-ya-know, I'm a photic sneezer. Don't I qualify for some taxpayer money under the ADA?

FReegards

[Romulus]

Surely more than one in ten. From my school days, I recall coming out of church after Friday Mass, into the brilliant noonday sun, with whole ranks and files of children sneezing in unison, me included.

[mykdsmom]

I wasn't aware of this phenomenon but I wanna know why yawning is catching.

I even yawn when someone I'm talking to on the phone yawns........WHY?

Anyone, Anyone?

MKM

[inflorida]

Finally, some information about this.
My husband always sneezes a few times after he catches some glimpses of the sun (usually after getting out of the car).
All of his siblings do this as well and to think that all of this time I thought it was just in his head...

[aomagrat]

So that's why I sneeze my head off in bright light. Not just the sun either. I can sneeze by looking at a light bulb or even a flash light.

[demkicker]

I've never notice that exposure to light makes me sneeze. OTOH, when I feel a sneeze coming on but am tortured because it won't materialize, I was taught to look at a bright light or the sun to bring the sneeze on. Sure enought, it works every time!

[GOPmember]

I recall hearing of a teleological explanation for this. As cave dwellers emerged from their caves, some would clear potentially harmful fungi from their upper respiratory tract (blastomycosis, histoplasmosis, coccidiodomycosis, etc.) by sneezing, triggered by exposure to sunlight. Those who did not exhibit this reflex may have been more prone to potentially fatal pneumonias and other infections due to these organism and, therefore, were less likely to procreate.

Whether true or not, it seems like a reasonable theory.

[alloysteel]

The post-coital phase of orgasm sometime causes me to sneeze....

[Aggie Mama]

Maybe someone can explain why I sneeze after eating a mint (the red and white kind), or chocolate, or after taking a sip of dry white wine. I thought that the yawning was a psychological response of a pack mentality i.e. all of us need to stay awake to protect our tribe from whatever evil lurks outside, so I'm going to yawn too. Could be total hogwash, but it sounds good!

[citizen]

It's from a certain trigger caused by the blue light spectrum. I was surprised, I sort of assumed it was the red spectrum.

And it's great, if I "need to sneeze" I just look at a light, any light, and get usually relief.

[I am still Casey]

This one is easy.....do it all the time.

If you feel like you need to sneeze, instead of struggling with it, just look at a bright light, and presto!

Stimulation of the optic nerve. Works every time.

[Cobra64]

I think it's also hereditary since both my son and I have this condition. Sometimes, when I'm on the brink of sneezing, I look at a light, and it fires off a good sneeze.... and yes, I cover my nose!

[Sabertooth]

(((ping))))

[Marie Antoinette]

BGH - You photic sneezer, you!

I hereby apologize for poking fun at your multiple sneeze fits every time we go outside :-)

listenhillary, are you photic as well?

[RJS1950]

The sunlight in some people, triggers an IGg cascade causing a an allergic reaction (sneeze).

[aruanan]

But the photic sneeze reflex occurs only after someone has been adapted to the dark for at least five minutes.

Yeah, right. If I feel the least little bit like a sneeze could possibly be there, a look at a light is enough to do it several times, no dark adaptation needed. Personally, I think it's a cross circuit between the optic and orgazmo nerves.

[d4now]

fyi

[SlightOfTongue]

Nothing personal, but...

We must really be 'scraping the bottom' for threads when these kind show up. Either that, or some people have absolutely nothing to do, and all day to do it.

[tje]

I have this. A doctor deemed me "photophobic" when I was 11 and prescribed photogray glasses. I wore them for about 30 years. I still sneeze when going out in bright sunlight, but living in Oregon minimizes the exposure...

[tgslTakoma]

ping