Johann Friedrich Horner (27 March 1831 – 20 December 1886) was an

ophthalmologist Ophthalmology ( ) is a surgery, surgical subspecialty within medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders. An ophthalmologist is a physician who undergoes subspecialty training in medical and surgical eye care. Followin ...

based at the

University of Zurich The University of Zürich (UZH, german: Universität Zürich) is a public research university located in the city of Zürich, Switzerland. It is the largest university in Switzerland, with its 28,000 enrolled students. It was founded in 1833 f ...

Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

Biography

Horner was born in Zurich. After receiving his medical degree from the

in 1854, he continued his studies in

Vienna en, Viennese , iso_code = AT-9 , registration_plate = W , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...

, where he learned

ophthalmoscopy Ophthalmoscopy, also called funduscopy, is a test that allows a health professional to see inside the fundus of the eye and other structures using an ophthalmoscope (or funduscope). It is done as part of an eye examination and may be done as part ...

from

Eduard Jäger von Jaxtthal Eduard Model Accessories is a Czech manufacturer of plastic models and finescale model accessories. Formed in 1989 in the city of Most, Eduard began in a rented cellar as a manufacturer of photoetched brass model components. Following the succ ...

(1818–1884), and in

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...

, where he served as an assistant to ophthalmologist

Albrecht von Graefe Albrecht von Graefe may refer to: * Albrecht von Graefe (ophthalmologist) (1828-1870), Prussian opthalmologist * Albrecht von Graefe (politician) Albrecht von Graefe (1 January 1868 – 18 April 1933) was a German landowner and right-wing ...

(1828–1870). It was during this time that Horner decided to become an ophthalmologist himself. He returned to Zurich in 1856, and later opened his own eye clinic named "Hottinghof". Horner became a full professor of ophthalmology in 1873. After his death in 1886, his position at the

was filled by

Otto Haab Otto Haab (19 April 1850 – 17 October 1931) was a Swiss ophthalmologist who was a native of Wülflingen, which today is a district in the city of Winterthur. In 1875, he obtained his doctorate from the University of Zurich, where, as a student ...

(1850–1931).

Horner's syndrome Horner's syndrome, also known as oculosympathetic paresis, is a combination of symptoms that arises when a group of nerves known as the sympathetic trunk is damaged. The signs and symptoms occur on the same side (ipsilateral) as it is a lesion o ...

, a disorder of the

sympathetic nervous system The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is one of the three divisions of the autonomic nervous system, the others being the parasympathetic nervous system and the enteric nervous system. The enteric nervous system is sometimes considered part of th ...

, was named after him following his description of the condition in 1869. His name is also associated with "Horner's muscle", the lacrimal portion of the

orbicularis oculi muscle The orbicularis oculi is a muscle in the face that closes the eyelids. It arises from the nasal part of the frontal bone, from the frontal process of the maxilla in front of the lacrimal groove, and from the anterior surface and borders of a short ...

that is sometimes referred to as the "tensor tarsi muscle". With Alexios Trantas (1867–1960), the "Horner-Trantas spots" are named, being defined as small whitish-yellow chalky concretions of the

conjunctiva The conjunctiva is a thin mucous membrane that lines the inside of the eyelids and covers the sclera (the white of the eye). It is composed of non-keratinized, stratified squamous epithelium with goblet cells, stratified columnar epithelium ...

around the

corneal limbus The corneal limbus (''Latin'': corneal border) is the border between the cornea and the sclera (the white of the eye). It contains stem cells in its palisades of Vogt. It may be affected by cancer or by aniridia (a developmental problem), among ...

He was the author of numerous articles on ophthalmic medicine, published in Carl Wilhelm von Zehender's ''Klinische Monatsblatt für Augenheilkunde''. He is credited with performing the first

Z-plasty Z-plasty is a versatile plastic surgery technique that is used to improve the functional and cosmetic appearance of scars. It can elongate a contracted scar or rotate the scar tension line. The middle line of the Z-shaped incision (the central ele ...

for correction of

ectropion Ectropion is a medical condition in which the lower eyelid turns outwards. It is one of the notable aspects of newborns exhibiting congenital Harlequin-type ichthyosis, but ectropion can occur due to any weakening of tissue of the lower eyelid. ...

References

Whonamedit.com entry on Horner
URL accessed 27 Feb 2006 *

External links

* * Swiss ophthalmologists 1831 births 1886 deaths University of Zurich alumni University of Zurich faculty Physicians from Zürich {{Switzerland-med-bio-stub