Why is it that when we sneeze, you automatically close your eyes?
469048
Your eyes will NOT pop out!  It is simply a protective reflex.  There is so much going on: abdominal contraction, sharp burst of air from the lungs, lunging movement that the body closes the eyes automatically to protect them.
119554
From the website linked below: \n\nSince the detailed answer below got kind of long, I will summarize the main points up front. About 25% of people do actually sneeze when exposed to bright lights like the sun. We do not know exactly why this happens, but it might reflect a "crossing" of pathways in the brain, between the normal reflex of the eye in response to light and the sneezing reflex. There is no apparent benefit from "sun-sneezing", and it probably is nothing more than an unimportant (but annoying) holdover of evolution. \n\nRead the whole article for detailed information.
370361
Probably because your face contorts (even if only slightly when the light source is mild), and that adds to the irritation in your nostril, triggering off a sneeze.
309689
it helps prevent (doesnt completely block) the germs from flying over the entire room or onto other people around you, but do know that if you dont wash your hands right after sneezing you are spreading the germs that are then on your hand.  it is reccomended to sneeze into a tissue or a handkerchief to prevent the spreading of germs.
758125
A sternutation or, more commonly known, sneeze is a semi-autonomous, convulsive expulsion of air from the nose and mouth. This air can reach speeds of 70 m/s (250 km/h) and an unimpeded sneeze sends two to five thousand bacteria-filled droplets into the air\n\nThis was also interesting:\n\nFebruary 2002 - Your brain musters a host of muscles to clear irritants from your nose at speeds up to 100 mph.\n\nEver try to stop a sneeze? Not easy, is it?\n\nSneezing is a reflex. "When your nose itches you sneeze," just as your knee jerks when a doctor taps it, says California allergist William E. Berger, M.D., a member of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. "Closing your eyes when you sneeze is also part of the reflex reaction."\n\nSneezing may seem simple, but it's more involved than you think. Here's how it works: Your nose often warns you a sneeze is coming. An irritant makes your nose start to itch or tickle.\n\nThen the part of your brain termed a "sneeze center" sends a message to designated muscles. "The signal from the brain tells our body to sneeze as a means of clearing out the irritating particles," says Dr. Berger.\n\nThe chest, abdomen, diaphragm, vocal cords, throat and eyelids join in a certain order to launch a sneeze. Presto -- your nose releases the irritant that's causing that itch. A sneeze propels particles from your nose at a speed of up to 100 miles per hour.\n\nSome particles sneak into your nose in a normal breath. A lot more come from colds or allergies. But the cause of your sneeze could also be bright sunshine.\n\nStrange as it sounds, bright light causes one out of three people to sneeze. Some doctors call them "photics," from the Greek meaning "of light." Photic sneezers can blame their parents -- you inherit this trait.\n\nIf your sneeze comes with chest congestion, headache, yellow or green nasal discharge, fever or a stuffy nose, you may want to see a doctor. You could have a cold or allergy.\n\nYou may be tempted to stop a sneeze. Don't.
907417
Heck if i know. I'm asleep. Seriously though. There's no reason whatsoever why a person can't sneeze while asleep. What if you're dreaming about petting a cat and you're allergic to cats? Yes is your answer.\n-\nOk, I read a few articles on sneezing while asleep. They all say a person can't. I still say just because people don't sneeze while asleep doesn't mean they "can't". Tell you what. Let me put some pepper under your nose while you're asleep and let see if you don't sneeze. =)\n.\n.
870320
ditto to the 2 answers above\n\nyou may get some peace from sneezing ect ... because you are relaxed\nbut you still CAN sneeze
312636
As in humans, sneezing is normal. It's a reflex for expelling something in the nose that doesn't belong there.
178849
The actual reason is to combat the pressure build up in your sinuses. \nSneezing releases alot of force.\nYour eyes are linked to your sinuses, and well - you wouldn't want to blast them out of your head now would you?
545364
If you try to stop a sneeze you could rupture a vein in your brain or neck and die.\nIf, by force you keep your eyes open while you sneeze, they could leave their sockets
493240
closing your eyes is a natural reaction to many events.  if someone blows in your eye, you will naturally try to shut them.  sneezing elicits this response because you are going through a spastic motion and there are lots of particles being hurled into the air.  it is hypothesized that we evolved this reaction to sneezing to keep those particles out of our eyes.\n\nsneezing involves releasing the air in your lungs at very high velocity.  for the most part, your nose and mouth can expel this gas before the pressure in your sinuses gets to a point that it causes your eyes to pop out.\n\nyour eyelids alone can't prevent your eyes from popping out.  try to close your mouth, nose and eyes as tight as you can and see how the air gets out.  also tell the doctors at the emergency room
333376
Closing your eyes is a natural reaction for several reasons: strong wind blasts and, of course, sneezing. It's mainly to keep your eyes protected from the resulting dust and mist. Your eyes will not pop out of your head, your actual sockets would hold them in! This is a myth. I don't know how it got started, but it's not true.
576422
Check this link out.  Another asker had a similar question.\n\nRead the best answer!\n\nANYBODY WHO THINKS THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SNEEZE WITH YOUR EYES OPEN IS ILL INFORMED AND SHOULD ALSO READ THIS LINK!
224264
Sorry, we don’t know why most people close their eyes when sneezing. Not all do. \n\nSome experts guess that we’ve evolved closing eyes to reduce sneeze spray landing in our eyes. However, our eyes are exposed constantly to bacteria and viruses and have good defenses without eye closing.\n\nClosing eyes (or keeping them open) is part of the sneeze reflex. It’s a reflex—meaning we have no conscious control of sneezes. Instead, the primitive part of the brain (called the medulla oblongata and located at the top of the spine) calls the shots. The reflex triggers major muscles of face, throat, and chest to fire out gunk going at 100 mph (150 kph) as fast as a pitcher’s fastball.\n\nMost people tighten the eye muscles, causing them to shut, as they tighten the other muscles involved in a sneeze. But not all do. Some sneeze with their eyes open. Either way, it’s part of the inborn sneeze reflex.\n\nIn 1888, Thomas Edison hit upon the idea of movies from looking at sequential pictures of someone sneezing
1049826
It is a superstition.  People used to believe that the devil could enter you when you sneezed.  God Bless You was a way for others to try to help prevent that.
162788
Tidbitonebox7 is on the right track.  The nerves that serve your eyes and nose are very close together, and strong stimulation of one can affect the other.  So, if you get a strong light stimulation in your eyes, it can affect your nose nerves and cause you to want to sneeze.  There are similar affects and effects throughout the body.
232297
A sneeze is the fastest known action that a human can perform.  It is involuntary and can make the head mover VERY sharply.  Maybe our eyes close so that we don't get anything in them when our head jerks forward?  Dust, leaves, branches, etc. would be both painful and dangerous if they got into our eyes while we were moving our head at high speed.\n\nAccording to Wikipedea:\nIt is almost impossible for a person to keep their eyelids open during a sneeze, although some rare individuals report having little if any trouble doing so. The reflex of shutting the eyes serves no obvious purpose: the nerves serving the eyes and the nose are closely related, and stimuli to the one often trigger some response in the other.