• Question: Why do you close your eyes when you sneeze?

    Asked by spongebob2012 to Mike, Pip, Tianfu, Tim, Tom on 26 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Tom Lister

      Tom Lister answered on 26 Jun 2012:

      I think there is a lot of pressure in your nasal cavity when you sneeze, which pushes up from below your eyes. Maybe they would pop out otherwise?

      Did you know that some frogs and toads chew by blinking their eyes?

    • Photo: Tim Stephens

      Tim Stephens answered on 26 Jun 2012:

      I’ve read somewhere that it’s an instinct to stop your eyes from coming out, but I think that’s probably not true. I guess it’s some sort of protection mechanism to stop you from getting stuff in them when you sneeze.

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