The Bio//Medical Enthusiast

Have you ever walked into a room with bright lights, or sunlight, and sneezed?

Firstly, bless you. Secondly, you may have ACHOO syndrome! Here are some facts about it¹:

• ACHOO stands for:
  • Autosomal dominant
  • Compulsive
  • Helio-
  • Opthalmic
  • Outbursts of sneezing
• ACHOO syndrome can also be known as:
  • Sun sneezing
  • Photic sneezing
  • Photic sneeze reflex (PSR)
  • Photic sneeze syndrome (PSS).
• 1 in 4 people in the world have this type of sneeze reflex, but no-one knows what in the body or what it is about sunlight that causes it.

Further reading:

1. Trinkl J, Bickerstaff L, Munkwitz S, Spitschan M. Stimulus conditions eliciting sneezing in response to bright light. Exp Brain Res [Internet]. 2025;243(2):56. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-024-06988-4