Photic Sneeze Reflex
Percentage Of People Who Have It: 11 to 35%
One of the world’s rare genetic traits that can be quite annoying for people, the photic sneeze reflex is a condition where light causes someone to sneeze. We do not mean random light, such as one in your kitchen or the light from your television. It is usually only triggered by looking at very bright lights and other various stimuli. The reflex affects everyone who has it differently. Some can handle brighter lights than others, for example. It actually has a more official name, which is quite funny.
That name is Autosomal Dominant Compelling Helio-Ophthalmic Outburst. This is abbreviated as literally ACHOO. We know, we know. Of course, others with a lesser sense of humor also refer to it as “photosneezia.” It’s hard to get an accurate number of people affected by the trait. This is why a wide range of 11 to 35% of the world is said to have it. However, according to the Journal of the American Optometric Association, the majority of those affected by it are actually white females.