Horners syndrome

Definition: (Horner syndrome): Horner syndrome is a rare condition that affects the nerves to the eye and face

Causes: Horner syndrome can be caused by any interruption in a set of nerve fibers that start in the part of the brain called the hypothalamus and travel to the face and eyes.

Sympathetic nerve fiber injuries can result from:

• Injury to one of the main arteries to the brain (carotid artery)
• Injury to nerves at the base of the neck called the brachial plexus
• Migraine or cluster headaches
• Stroke, tumor, or other damage to a part of the brain called the brainstem
• Tumor in the top of the lung

Rarely, Horner syndrome may be present at birth (congenital). The condition may occur with a lack of color (pigmentation) of the iris (colored part of the eye).

Symptoms:

• Decreased sweating on the affected side of the face
• Drooping eyelid (ptosis)
• Sinking of the eyeball into the face
• Small (constricted) pupil (the black part in the center of the eye)

There may also be symptoms of the disorder that is causing the problem.

Exams and Tests:

An eye examination may show:

• Changes in how the pupil opens or closes
• Eyelid drooping
• Red eye

A complete medical and nervous system (neurological) examination can show whether any other parts of the body are affected.

Other tests may include:

• Blood tests
• Blood vessel tests (cerebral angiogram, CT angiogram, or MR angiogram
• Chest x-ray or chest CT scan
• MRI or CT scan of the brain
• Spinal tap (lumbar puncture)

You may need to be referred to a doctor who specializes in vision problems related to the nervous system (neuro-ophthalmologist).

Treatment: Treatment depends on the cause of the problem. There is no treatment for Horner syndrome itself.

Prognosis: The outcome depends on whether treatment of the cause is successful.

Complications: There are no direct complications of Horner syndrome itself. However, there may be complications from the disease that caused Horner syndrome or from its treatment.