Horner’s syndrome is a medical disorder caused due impairment of the sympathetic nervous system. This syndrome also goes by the name of Bernard-Horner syndrome or oculosympathetic palsy.

The signs and symptoms of the syndrome include:

Sagging upper eyelid on one side of the face (ptosis)

Elevation of the lower eyelid

Contraction in the pupil (miosis)

Delay in dilatation

A feeling that the eye has sunk in (enophtalmos)

Diminution of perspiration (anhidrosis)

Loss of the reflexes of ciliospine

Depending on the sight of the injury, blood shot eye might appear

Redness of the face is another common sign of Horner’s syndrome that is caused due to the dilation of the blood vessels under the skin.

Children affected by the Horner’s syndrome may occasionally develop a variation in the eye color of the two eyes.

Causes of Horner’s syndrome:

Horner’s syndrome can be caused by an injury or due to firmness on one side of the cervical or thoracic sympathetic chain.

It can result because of cluster headache.

It can also be a consequence of the lateral medullary syndrome.

A disturbance in the base of the neck can also lead to the development of Horner’s syndrome.

Contagion of the middle ear can also lead to this condition.

The condition caused by the deficiency of salt in the body called goiter is another cause for Horner.

Diagnosis of Horner’s syndrome:

There are three different tests used for the diagnosis of Horner. These are:

Cocaine drop test:

Individuals suffering from Horner experience a lack of norepinephrine in the synaptic cleft. Cocaine blocks the chemical re-absorption of norepinephrine and leads to the dilation of the pupil. But in case, the person is suffering from Horner, the pupils fail to get dilated.

Paredrine test:

This test is useful in confining the cause of miosis.

Dilation lag test:

It is helpful in distinguishing between ptosis caused by Horner’s syndrome and that caused by an injury to the oculomotor nerve.