why do you shut your eyes when you sneeze?

Question

When you sneeze you always shut your eyes is it possible to keep them open? why do you have to close them?

Answer 1

When you sneeze, various parts of the body receive the signal to contract, and it just happens to including your eyes. As far as we know, there's no real reason to close your eyes, but it just happens to be the way we're wired.

Though you can't choose to ignore the impulse to close the eyes, one could potentially hold ones eyes open somehow. Urban legend says this will cause them to pop out, but that's not true. Your eyes will bulge slightly, but it's usually harmless.

Answer 2

Sneezes are very powerful because not just the nose is involved. It is a reflex response that involves the muscles of the face, throat, and chest. You have to close your eyes when you sneeze because the muscles that close your eyes are part of the reflex response as well.

When you sneeze, air and particles travel through the nostrils at speeds over100 mph. During this time, all bodily functions stop, including your heart, contributing to the impossibility of keeping one's eyes open during a sneeze.

So never try to block or pinch your nose when sneezing...you will blow your brains out.

Answer 3

It is impossible to keep your eyes open when you sneeze. It is a reflex to keep the germs coming out of your nose from getting into your eyes.

Answer 4

i have heard it is impossible to open them. your facial muscles squeeze to hard to force them the other way in mid sneeze. I dont know. that is just what i have heard from uneducated people

Answer 5

cos our nose,eyes n ears r linking together(passages),if u open ur eyes while sneezing ur eyes w'd be wet as if u r crying.

Answer 6

your eyeballs will pop out if you dont