I've tried to keep my eyes open when I sneeze but can't. I always blink. Is it impossible or am I just weird?

Question

I was driving on a very high, one lane, curved, over pass exit from a busy freeway with cars in front of me and behind me and very little room one either side when I had a sneezing attack. I could not keep from blinking when I sneezed no matter how I tried. It was sheer luck or a blessing from above that I didn't run into the guard rails and cause a serious pile up. Since then I've been very consious of how I sneeze and I cannot do it without blinking. So, I am wondering if I am alone in this or is it a normal occurance?

Answer 1

You're just weird.

Answer 2

"The received wisdom states that if you don't blink when you sneeze, your eyes will fly out of your head. Thankfully, as is often the case with urban legends, this theory is a load of hooey. Your eyeballs are safe and sound in their sockets. For a funny pictorial representation of this hypothetical scenario, check out this urban myth page from MTV.

In reality, a sneeze is simply an involuntary nervous response to nasal irritation. According to this nifty science blog entry, the sneeze impulse affects a variety of body parts, including the abdomen, chest, neck, and face. During a sneeze, the impulses that travel through your face cause your eyelids to blink. This response is entirely automatic. There's nothing you can do about it. Sneezing puts a lot of pressure on your head and respiratory system, so blinking is probably a protective mechanism.

The point is that all of these responses (the abdominal contraction, the sharp burst of air out of your lungs, the general lunging movement) are intertwined. When you sneeze, you can't do one without the other. "

Answer 3

It is impossible to not close your eyes when you sneeze.

Answer 4

its a proven fact u cant see while sneezing, i read it on a back of a Libra pad fact sheet

Answer 5

You're probably weird, but yes it is impossible.

Answer 6

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.

YOU ARE NOT WEIRD!!!