A Look at Horner Syndrome

Horner syndrome is a condition in which the sympathetic nerves that control movement of the eyes and face are damaged in some manner. Often, the syndrome develops after the occurrence of a stroke, or some type of injury or health issue involving the spinal column. Persistent and prolonged migraine headaches may lead to the nerve damage as well. However, there are cases of Horner syndrome that appear for no apparent reason.

One very rare cause of Horner syndrome takes place at birth. If an injury to the newborn takes place during the birthing process, especially an injury to the spinal cord, the child may be born with the syndrome. Because different sympathetic nerves control function and movement on each side of the face, the child will normally have full control over one side while the function of the other side will be impaired to some degree.

There are a number of symptoms associated with the presence of Horner syndrome. The upper eyelid may droop slightly, while the lower eyelid appears to be elevated. There is a pronounced lack of perspiration on the side of the face where the syndrome is manifested. Often, the pupil of the affected eye will be noticeably smaller than the pupil in the unaffected eye. When an individual is born with this condition, there is also a good chance that the color of the affected eye will be slightly lighter than the color of the unaffected eye.

Because Horner syndrome is more of a condition than a disease, there is no one course of treatment administered. Generally, the treatment will depend on the origin of the condition, with medication or surgery used to address the underlying cause. This is especially true when there is a tumor along the spinal column, or some type of cyst is found within the spinal cord. Once surgery is used to remove the tumor or cyst, there is some chance that the sympathetic nerves may repair themselves, leading to an end to the syndrome for the patient.

In like manner, there are cases of stroke victims eventually recovering the full range of feeling and function in the affected side of the face. The eyelids return to a more normal appearance and the tingling that victims of Horner syndrome often experience in the cheek and around one corner of the mouth disappear over time. While the remission may be more or less spontaneous, it is more often a gradual process that may take months to accomplish.

In some situations, it may not be possible to correct the effects of the syndrome. When this is the case, the patient is normally provided with rehabilitation therapy to learn how to live with the condition.