You're relaxing in the sun, sitting on a cafe terrace with friends. Yet, despite this moment of relaxation, you can't help but sneeze more or less loudly and repeatedly! Strange, because no pollen, no cold! Don't worry, it's not necessarily a virus or other illness, but simply a reflex reaction, called the photic sneeze reflex or "heliotropic sneeze". Rest assured; almost one in four people experience this, and Aristotle already noticed this phenomenon in his time!
WHEN DOES THIS REFLEX REACTION OCCUR?
This photic sneeze reflex occurs during a sudden change in luminosity. You were in a cellar or a movie theater and suddenly emerge into bright daylight with intense and vivid light. The light "hits" the retina, and in response, the optic nerve commands the closure of the pupils via an electrical signal. And the optic nerve is very close to the trigeminal nerve, which controls sneezing in the presence of irritating particles for the nose.
Like electrical wires touching
One hypothesis suggests that part of the signal circulating in the optic nerve is picked up by the trigeminal nerve, as if two electrical wires were touching, causing a sneeze.
However, there are few studies on the subject because it poses no danger to our health. Unless, perhaps, it strikes you repeatedly when exiting tunnels on the highway!
What are the solutions for the photic sneeze reflex?
This natural phenomenon is believed to be hereditary, and therefore there is no real "solution" to remedy it... Adopting good sunglasses could nevertheless mitigate the "striking" shock of the sun on the retina and limit the sneeze reflex. They would indeed allow your eyes to gradually adjust to the dazzling light.
WHERE TO FIND BRANDED SUNGLASSES AT LOW PRICES?
From Paris, Brussels, or even Geneva, your online optician Varionet offers branded sunglasses at reduced prices with or without correction!
Don't wait any longer!
