Horner Syndrome Overview
Learn About Horner Syndrome
Horner syndrome is a rare condition that affects the nerves to the eyes and face.
Oculosympathetic paresis; Horner's syndrome
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. These nerve fibers are involved with sweating, the pupils in your eyes, and the upper and lower eyelid muscles.
Damage of the nerve fibers can result from:
- Injury to the carotid artery, one of the main arteries to the brain
- Injury to nerves at the base of the neck called the brachial plexus or nerve roots
- Migraine or cluster headaches
- Stroke, tumor, or other damage to a part of the brain called the brainstem
- Tumor or infection in the top of the lung, between the lungs, and neck
- Injections or surgery done to interrupt the nerve fibers and relieve pain (sympathectomy)
- Spinal cord injury
In rare cases, Horner syndrome is present at birth. The condition may occur with a lack of color (pigmentation) of the iris (colored part of the eye).
Symptoms of Horner syndrome may include:
- Decreased sweating on the affected side of the face
- Drooping eyelid (ptosis)
- Sinking of the eyeball into the face
- Different sizes of pupils of the eyes (anisocoria) with the affected side pupil being smaller
There may also be other symptoms, depending on the location of the affected nerve fiber. These may include:
- Vertigo (sensation that surroundings are spinning) with nausea and vomiting
- Double vision
- Lack of muscle control and coordination
- Arm pain, weakness and numbness
- One sided neck and ear pain
- Hoarseness
- Hearing loss
- Bladder and bowel difficulty
- Overreaction of the involuntary (autonomic) nervous system to stimulation (hyperreflexia)
Treatment depends on the underlying cause of the condition. There is no treatment for Horner syndrome itself. Ptosis is very mild and in rare cases affects vision in Horner syndrome. This can be corrected by cosmetic surgery or treated with eyedrops. Your provider can tell you more.
Loyola University Medical Center
Matthew Mccoyd is a Neurologist in Burr Ridge, Illinois. Dr. Mccoyd and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Horner Syndrome. His top areas of expertise are Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (RMS), Neuralgia, and Spasticity. Dr. Mccoyd is currently accepting new patients.
Loyola University Medical Center
Jose Biller is a Neurologist in Maywood, Illinois. Dr. Biller and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Horner Syndrome. His top areas of expertise are Stroke, Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy, Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), Thrombectomy, and Embolectomy. Dr. Biller is currently accepting new patients.
Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation
Kevin Swong is a Neurosurgery provider in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Swong and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Horner Syndrome. His top areas of expertise are Spondylolisthesis, Fractured Spine, Lordosis, Spinal Fusion, and Laminectomy. Dr. Swong is currently accepting new patients.
The outcome depends on whether treatment of the cause is successful.
There are no direct complications of Horner syndrome itself. But, there may be complications from the disease that caused Horner syndrome or from its treatment.
Contact your provider if you have symptoms of Horner syndrome.
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Published Date: June 13, 2024
Published By: Joseph V. Campellone, MD, Department of Neurology, Cooper Medical School at Rowan University, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Balcer LJ. Pupillary disorders. In: Liu GT, Volpe NJ, Galetta SL, eds. Liu, Volpe, and Galetta's Neuro-Ophthalmology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 13.
Tamhankar MA. Eye movement disorders: third, fourth, and sixth nerve palsies and other causes of diplopia and ocular misalignment. In: Liu GT, Volpe NJ, Galetta SL, eds. Liu, Volpe, and Galetta's Neuro-Ophthalmology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 15.
Thurtell MJ, Rucker JC. Pupillary and eyelid abnormalities. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 17.