Why Do We Close Our Eyes When We Sneeze? Here’s the Science Behind it

Closing our eyes when we sneeze is almost an automatic response. This phenomenon has sparked curiosity in many people and is related to our body’s natural protective mechanism. Let’s find out why we close our eyes when we sneeze and the underlying physiological and neurological mechanisms.

Causes and Process of Sneezing

The Start of a Sneeze
A sneeze begins when the mucous membrane inside the nose is stimulated. Such stimulation can occur from various external factors such as dust, pollen, and cold viruses. Once the stimulus is detected, the brain triggers a sneeze to expel the stimulus from the body.

The Process of Sneezing
Sneezing is when your body forcefully pushes out air. During this, high-pressure air from your lungs comes out quickly through your nose and mouth. This helps to clear irritants from your nose and keeps your breathing system clean.

Why We Close Our Eyes When We Sneeze

Automatic Nervous Reaction
Closing our eyes when we sneeze is part of an automatic nervous reaction. It is controlled by signals originating from the brain, and it is a response that most people cannot consciously control. Closing our eyes helps protect them from the powerful air expulsion caused by a sneeze.

Eye Protection Mechanism
A powerful sneeze increases the likelihood of small particles or pathogens entering the eyes. By closing our eyes, our body protects them from these elements. Also, the high-pressure air produced during a sneeze could exert direct pressure on the eyes, so closing them protects the eyes from this pressure.

Neurological Factors Related to Sneezing

The neural pathway that triggers sneezing and the one that causes us to close our eyes are closely connected. This means that a specific part of the brain can simultaneously control the sneeze and the closing of the eyes. Sneezing is a complex response, with multiple neural pathways involved in triggering various bodily responses at the same time.

It is not recommended to keep your eyes open while sneezing, as it could interfere with the natural protective mechanism for the eyes.

The phenomenon of closing our eyes while sneezing is part of our body’s automatic and instinctive protective mechanism, playing a role in protecting our eyes during a powerful sneeze. This is a natural bodily response, occurring due to the complex connectivity of the nervous system and protective mechanisms.

Photo Source: Pexels

By. Stay Healthy