Horner’s syndrome

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Central nervous system

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Horner’s syndrome

Definition:

Horner's syndrome is caused by injury to the sympathetic nerves of the face. It is characterized by a constricted pupil, drooping eyelid (ptosis), and facial dryness.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

There are many potential causes of Horner's syndrome. It can be caused by any interruption of the sympathetic nerve fibers, which start in the hypothalamus (a central brain region) and run via the upper spinal cord near the carotid artery to the face.

Sympathetic nerve fiber injuries can result from a stroke in the brainstem, injury to the carotid artery, a tumor in the upper lobe of the lung, and cluster headaches.

Rarely, Horner's syndrome may be congenital (present at birth) and associated with a lack of pigmentation of the iris (colored part of the eye). Eye drops and certain medications may also lead to this condition.

Review Date: 7/2/2004
Reviewed By: Joseph V. Campellone, M.D., Division of Neurology, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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