Overview Of Horner’s Syndrome
Horner’s Syndrome is a disorder that affects the eye and surrounding tissues on one side of the face and results from paralysis of certain nerves. The syndrome can appear at any time of life; in about 5 percent of affected individuals, the disorder is present from birth (congenital).
Horner syndrome is characterized by drooping of the upper eyelid (ptosis) on the affected side, a constricted pupil in the affected eye (miosis) resulting in unequal pupil size (anisocoria), and absent sweating (anhidrosis) on the affected side of the face. Sinking of the eye into its cavity (enophthalmos) and a bloodshot eye often occur in this disorder. In people with this condition that occurs before the age of 2, the colored part (iris) of the eyes may differ in color (iris heterochromia), with the iris of the affected eye being lighter in color than that of the unaffected eye. Individuals who develop Horner syndrome after age 2 do not generally have iris heterochromia.
The abnormalities in the eye area related to Horner syndrome do not generally affect vision or health. However, the nerve damage that causes this condition may result from other health problems, some of which can be life-threatening.
Commonly Associated With
- Bernard-Horner syndrome
- Oculosympathetic palsy
- Von Passow syndrome
Causes Of Horner’s Syndrome
Although congenital Horner syndrome can be passed down in families, no associated genes have been identified. The syndrome appears after the newborn period (acquired Horner syndrome) and most cases of congenital Horner syndrome result from damage to nerves called the cervical sympathetics. These nerves belong to the part of the nervous system that controls involuntary functions (the autonomic nervous system). Within the autonomic nervous system, the nerves are part of a subdivision called the sympathetic nervous system. The cervical sympathetic nerves control several functions in the eye and face such as dilation of the pupil and sweating. Problems with the function of these nerves cause the signs and symptoms. Horner syndrome that occurs very early in life can lead to iris heterochromia because the development of the pigmentation (coloring) of the iris is under the control of the cervical sympathetic nerves.
Damage to the cervical sympathetic nerves can be caused by a direct injury to the nerves themselves, which can result from trauma that might occur during a difficult birth, surgery, or accidental injury. The nerves related to Horner syndrome can also be damaged by a benign or cancerous tumor, for example, a childhood cancer of the nerve tissues called neuroblastoma.
Horner syndrome can also be caused by problems with the artery that supplies blood to the head and neck (the carotid artery) on the affected side, resulting in loss of blood flow to the nerves. Some individuals with congenital Horner syndrome have a lack of development (agenesis) of the carotid artery. Tearing of the layers of the carotid artery wall (carotid artery dissection) can also lead to this condition.
The signs and symptoms of Horner syndrome can also occur during a migraine headache. When the headache is gone, the signs and symptoms usually also go away.
Some people with Horner syndrome have neither a known problem that would lead to nerve damage nor any history of the disorder in their family. These cases are referred to as idiopathic.
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
- 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, between the lungs, and neck
- Injections or surgery done to interrupt the nerve fibers and relieve pain (sympathectomy)
- Spinal cord injury
- In rare cases, the syndrome is present at birth. It may occur with a lack of color (pigmentation) of the iris (colored part of the eye).
Symptoms Of Horner’s Syndrome
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)
- There may also be other symptoms, depending on the location of the affected nerve fiber.
These may include:
- Vertigo (the 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)
Exams & Tests
The health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask about the symptoms.
An eye exam may show:
- Changes in how the pupil opens or closes
- Eyelid drooping
- Red-eye
Depending on the suspected cause, tests may be done, such as:
- Blood tests
- Blood vessel tests of the head (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 Of Horner’s Syndrome
There are no direct complications of the syndrome itself. But, there may be complications from the disease that caused Horner syndrome or from its treatment.
Other
About 1 in 6,250 babies are born with this syndrome. The incidence of Horner syndrome that appears later is unknown, but it is considered an uncommon disorder. It is usually not inherited and occurs in individuals with no history of the disorder in their family. Acquired Horner syndrome and most cases of congenital Horner syndrome have nongenetic causes. Rarely, congenital Horner syndrome is passed down within a family in a pattern that appears to be autosomal dominant, which means one copy of an altered gene in each cell is sufficient to cause the disorder. However, no genes associated with the condition have been identified.
