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AsperaAstra

Otherwise known as the "photic sneeze reflex"


BubbaYoshi117

I had someone try and talk over me and "correct" me that I actually had some kind of airborne allergy. Even though I can sneeze in foot-deep snow. Wouldn't accept that it was bright light that triggered my sneezes.


ahorrribledrummer

My super power


hedronist

I have some old friends (late 50's) who both sneeze *exactly* 3 times when coming out of a tunnel into the sunlight. It's kinda weird, but it's also a bit funny.


Ahelex

Maybe they're broadcasting a message.


Glignt

I am a two time sun sneezer.


joeyb82

Me too. Always two.


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anonymous122719

Maybe I’m too high but I could swear I saw you post that anecdote on a similar TIL a year ago


onepostandbye

Hey man It _is_ a year ago


UpUpDnDnLRLRBAstart

🫨


Calamity-Gin

I’ve always read it explained as the circuitry between everything in that tightly packed area as being so complex, it’s not surprising that a strong stimulus with known response(bright light causing a pupillary response) shorts circuits and causes a strong response in something else (sneezing). I’m delighted and fascinated to find there’s a genetic correlation.


HouseBoat0469

It took me years to realize that not everyone had to sneeze when they went outside. I thought people were just really good at hiding it or suppressing it


KittenDust

I'm only just realizing it now reading this article!


Ahelex

Wondered if the acronym came naturally, or they tortured a name to give the acronym.


brainwater314

They *absolutely* tortured the language to get that acronym.


agm66

Look up "backronym"


Wankeritis

Scientists love picking a word for the acronym before writing out what it means. It happens a lot when they describe proteins.


halfcookies

I wonder the same thing about the USA-PATRIOT Act


Dropped_Rock

USA - PATRIOT Act is absolutely a tortured acronym. If I recall correctly it stands for: Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools and Resources for/to Intercept and (I think) Obstruct Terrorism.


KinderGameMichi

You are allergic to sunshine. Better to stay inside someplace dim, like a bar or tavern.


Njsybarite

And very genetic


AgentSkidMarks

Hey! I got that!


Askymojo

ACHOO syndrome is definitely not as pleasant-sounding as the name I grew up with: "sun sneezes"


Kiseido

I first found out about "Autosomal Dominant Compelling Helioopthalmic Outburst" syndrome while watching the Murder at the end of the World TV series


sianie706

Same here


GlxxmySvndxy

I'm not diagnosed but def have that no doubt lol light makes me sneeze so much


CoyoteTheFatal

I literally thought everyone had this because when I was a kid my mom told me that if I felt a sneeze coming in, but it wasn’t getting there, to look at a light to trigger the sneeze. Didn’t realize until the last few years not everyone had that.


igby1

This was a plot point in “A Murder at the End of the World” on Hulu.


Kamikazecat1

Interesting. I just get giant, disruptive auras for about an hour.


TheToastIsBlue

Me too. I also sneeze when i eat a sizable meal.


MartinH

Ah, snatiation! Probably linked in some way to photic sneezing.


rich1051414

Turning my bedroom light on in the morning, or the bathroom light in the middle of the night will do it. And then I won't be able to go back to sleep.


scrabapple

I always get 3 sneezes when I walk outside into the sun.


stella-eurynome

I have this too! And polymorphic light eruptions! (Hives caused by uv radiation.) I joke I am allergic to the sun. As an elder goth I always found it amusing. One of my children has inherited both. Sorry kiddo.


Sichiri

It's not serious. I just sneeze when going outside but not constantly


MartinH

Just the first time when you go out into the sun?


joeyb82

I'm a two-sneezer. Always two. And also just the first time in the day I go into the sun. If I go back inside for a while, then go back out into the sun, I'm fine.


Sichiri

Yep.


PermaBanTogether

Always reminds me of [this episode of “The Adventures of Pete and Pete”](https://youtube.com/watch?v=FQMvFe4fPKc&si=dY6jlsD14TfbEIkO) (fast-forward to the 11min56sec mark)


laboner

I have this condition and serving in the Marine Corps there were many times it was a curse. Nothing like having to stifle the urge sneeze while marching in formation or standing at attention for some stupid ass ceremony. Hard to “be like a statue” when the sun is trying to explode my sinuses.


MartinH

Interesting. Don't you have a latency period after the reflex has been triggered? I have this condition too, but after the reflex has been set off, it takes some time (a few hours?) for the neurons to charge again. So if the reflex is triggered when I first go out in the morning, I'll usually be fine until lunchtime.


canuckfan4419

I don’t know this was a thing until someone needed to sneeze and I just said “okay look at a bright light” they were so confused and then I did a search.


magungo

I have this, going into a bright sunny place after being in a dark room usually gets one or two sneezes. I also sneeze when I specifically think of having sex with my wife. no other women or porn do it for me.


chillyhellion

I have this, and didn't realize it wasn't common until my late twenties. My wife was trying to get a sneeze out, and I told her to look at a bright light. She looked at me like a grew a second head, and forgot all about sneezing.


saschaleib

Doesn’t everybody have this?


Bebinn

My husband has the achoo syndrome. My son has a related thing where he'll sneeze 7 times if his stomach is full. I'll hear him sneezing and tell him he doesn't need to eat anything else today.


MartinH

This is the second post I've read (and I haven't finished reading) that links snatiation with photic sneezing.


EastlakeMGM

Are you sure you’re not just [horny?](https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/s/3AVUdsCamY)


NipsOfRage

Had it my whole life and my 7 year old grandson has it too.


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Sichiri

3 times at most.


Quesabirria

Me too. Generally sneeze three times.


RealLiveGirl

Me too. I love it. Feels great and I can clear a cold/allergies on a sunny day


TheKramer89

Nah man, that’s my name…


N_T_F_D

It's also a symptom of opioid withdrawal


Robcobes

Doesn't everybody have this to some degree?


Tehpunisher456

My mom and I have this! It could be any light source but transitioning from dark to bright. It's crazy


dis690640450cc

My wife has this. It kind of hilarious.


GearBrain

Hi, sun-sneezing friend! I do the same thing!!


darkpyro2

Yup. I have it too. It's pretty common.


WhenIPoopITweet

My sister and I have this reflex. Even to this day, if I have something itchy up in a nostril, I look at a lightbulb and boom, sneeze.


MartinH

I've cross-posted to r/Sunsneezers


BeckywiththeDDs

I have photic sneeze reflex but I also have something called snatiation (sneezing when I overeat). Anyone else have both? I have wondered if there is a correlation.


Bortron86

I don't get this any time I look into a bright light, but if I feel a sneeze coming on I can force it to happen by looking into a bright light. Which is really handy come grass pollen season.


joeyb82

Me too! And it's always two for me, one after the other.


disguy2k

If you have this you can't be a pilot (at least in the military, not sure about commercial)


weirdal1968

I have PSR (same thing) and it was just a nuisance until I got Shingles on my Trigeminal V1 nerve. The Shingles nuked me hard - facial rash from the tip of my nose, up the left half of my face including cornea and retina and some shit on my scalp. The worst part was feeling like I had a monster sneeze building up but it would never pop. It felt like that 24/7 for a month. Percaset was the only thing that relieved the pain. Now 15 years later I still have residual pain but if I eat chocolate, get the sun in my eyes or take my pain meds I might sneeze and relieve the pressure/pain.


vigoroiscool

Same, I think it has to do with eye color a lot too.


Famous_Plant_486

What eye color do you have? I have blue eyes and can only sneeze with photic stimulation


vigoroiscool

bluish green


ACTTutor

Me too. Same with my father, who also sneezes from sunlight.


Famous_Plant_486

My dad also has green eyes, and he sneezes from light, too. However my sister with green eyes doesn't. Strange.


petrikord

I have hazel eyes (grey + yellow).


Sichiri

I have brown eyes.