Is it possible to sneeze with eyes open

Send a query. Lucky dip. Any answers? Nooks and crannies. Semantic enigmas. The body beautiful. Red tape, white lies. Speculative science. This sceptred isle. While riding on a street car, she was seized with a sudden fit of sneezing and burst one of her eyeballs, from which she has since been suffering the most intense pain. Given that there are no modern cases of this happening, it's unlikely to be true.

However, there is other good news, that people have vomited so hard that their lenses have come loose. This website uses cookies to improve user experience.

By continuing to use our website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our cookie policy. Share on Facebook. Exactly how securely are your eyeballs attached to your head? To debunk this myth, let's first take a look at what's going on inside the body during a sneeze. Sneezing is a protective mechanism that the body uses to expel dust, pollen, pet hair and other allergens. Some people sneeze when they're exposed to cold air. It's common to sneeze when you have a cold because the inside of the nasal cavity becomes swollen and more sensitive than usual.

This sensitivity triggers sneezing at the slightest irritation. The act of sneezing is involuntary, but the body goes through a very systematic process during the act.

When an irritant comes in contact with the nasal lining, the nerves in the area send a message to the lower portion of the brain , known as the medulla. The brain then triggers the activity necessary for the body to sneeze:. The muscles in the chest expand, the diaphragm contracts, and the lungs fill with air. The muscles that are in the back of the throat and vocal cords also contract, and then the stomach and chest muscles follow suit. Finally, the sneeze is expelled through the mouth, sending between 2, and 5, droplets of mucus and air flying away from the body at between 70 and miles per hour The spray from a sneeze can extend 5 feet This spray is made up of saliva and mucus.

Expelling the mixture through the mouth clears the nasal cavity. One other thing happens during this process: Your eyes squeeze shut. But why? There's got to be some legitimate reason, right? To understand whether your eyes are likely to detach from your body during a sneeze, you first need to understand how they're attached to your head. If all that's holding them in place is the flimsy piece of skin known as the eyelid, then that would make sneezing awfully dangerous.

Think about how many times you've watched someone out of the corner of your eye or rolled your eyes at some inane thing your friend said. Those eye movements are powered by muscles -- the same muscles that keep your eyes where they belong. The medial and lateral rectus, superior and inferior oblique and superior and inferior rectus muscles are all attached firmly to the eye. And they aren't going to let it roll out on the floor.

The purpose of eyelids is to protect the delicate eye area from injury and debris. Blinking acts as a wash for the eyes, freshening them with the vitreous fluid that's part of the eye. Tear ducts drain into the back of the nose, which is why crying leads to a runny nose. It's also the reason that sneezing can lead to teary eyes. The pressure built up when you sneeze can temporarily prevent the tear ducts from draining.