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,

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 University of Zurich in 1854, he continued his studies in Vienna, where he learned ophthalmoscopy from Eduard Jäger von Jaxtthal (1818–1884), and in Berlin, where he served as an assistant to ophthalmologist Albrecht von Graefe (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 University of Zurich 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 that is sometimes referred to as the "tensor tarsi muscle". With

Alexios Trantas Alexios Trantas (March 1867 – 1960) was a Greek ophthalmologist born in Vourbiani, Epirus. In 1891 he obtained his doctorate in Athens, continuing his education in Paris under Photinos Panas (1832-1903), Louis de Wecker (1832-1906) and Xavier ...

(1867–1960), the "Horner-Trantas spots" are named, being defined as small whitish-yellow chalky concretions of the conjunctiva around the corneal limbus He was the author of numerous articles on ophthalmic medicine, published in

Carl Wilhelm von Zehender Carl Wilhelm von Zehender (21 May 1819 – 19 December 1916) was a German ophthalmologist born in Bremen. He studied medicine at the universities of Göttingen, Jena and Kiel, receiving his doctorate in 1845. He studied ophthalmology in Paris ...

's ''Klinische Monatsblatt für Augenheilkunde''. He is credited with performing the first Z-plasty for correction of ectropion.

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