Horner syndrome

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Central nervous system

Horner syndrome is rare condition caused by injury to the sympathetic nerves of the face. It involves a collection of symptoms, including:

• Sinking of the eyeball into the face
• Small (constricted) pupil
• Drooping eyelid ( ptosis )
• Lack of face sweating

There are many potential causes of Horner 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 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: 08/07/2006
Reviewed By: Daniel Kantor, M.D., Director of the Comprehensive MS Center, Neuroscience Institute, University of Florida Health Science Center, Jacksonville, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.