United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

my son has amblyopia - lazy eye - no one will say it is related to the obpi- but I am highly suspicious - if not the bpi then likely the traumatic birth that severely squished and malformed his head at birth. - an appointment with the ped opthamologist is a very good eye-dea.good for you for being so observant and getting it checked out.

Just as an update for Zoe. We talked with our neurologist and they told us they didn't deal with eye problems at all. However, Zoe see's a PT through a program called First Steps, and her therapist know's of an pediatric optimologist in the Kansas City area that is suppose to be amazing. She is going to put in her next evaluation of Zoe that she recomendes First Steps sends us to see her. If we go that route we won't have to pay for it. I am so glad her therapist is observent.

Thank you all for your advice! from what I read I really need to get on this and get it checked out just in case it is Horner's disease. Do you know where I could find out more about Horner's so I am prepaired in case that is what it is?

Thank you again!
Melissa

Sophie's Mom; If you are comfortable sharing I am wondering how your appointment with the Optimologist went?

Horners Syndrome is caused by damage or interruption of the sympathetic nerve to the eye. This causes a small, regular pupil; ptosis(drooping) of the eye lid on the same side; and occasionally loss of sweat formation on the forehead of the affected eye. The pupil will still react to light stimulus and will accommodate to distant vision. The pupil of Horners Syndrome will not enlarge in the dark. Treatment for Horners Syndrome focuses on finding the cause of the interruption of the sympathetic nerve to that area of the eye. This is usually in the neck, but can be in the brain.

Believe it opr not the best information on Horner’s syndrome can be found on vetrinarian sites! One of the easiest explanations to read is found at :
http://home.flash.net/~anmleyz/horner%27s.htm

I quote:
“This is what happens in Horner's syndrome. On its journey to the eye, the sympathetic nerve begins in the brain, travels down the spinal cord to the shoulders and exits from the spinal cord. After exiting, the sympathetic nerve joins an artery and vein and travels back toward the head. At the base of the ear, a nerve junction (ganglion) occurs. The portion of the nerve from the brain to the shoulders and back to the base of the ear is called the pre-ganglionic nerve. After the ganglion, the nerve goes to the eye. This is the post-ganglionic nerve. Around the eye are several muscles responsible for moving the eye which are under voluntary control. Surrounding these muscles is a smooth muscle cone which is controlled by the sympathetic nerve. The nerve causes the smooth muscle cone to become constricted and this in turn pushes the eye slightly forward to its normal position in the orbit. If the sympathetic nerve is not working well, the eye will sink somewhat into the orbit. When this occurs the inner or third eyelid will become prominent and the upper eyelid will become droopy. The sympathetic nerves surround blood vessels within the conjunctiva (white portion of the eye which we see) and cause an ever so slight constriction of these vessels. With the loss of the sympathetic nerves, these conjunctival blood vessels dilate and the conjunctiva therefore looks more red. Surrounding the pupil a sphincter (closing) muscle is present which is under parasympathetic control. Working against the sphincter muscle are radially arranged dilator muscles very much like spokes on a bicycle. These dilator muscles are under sympathetic control. If the sympathetic nerve is not working well, the pupil will be smaller than normal because the dilator muscles cannot work against the sphincter muscle. All the above describe Horner's syndrome. Horner's syndrome is associated with damage to the sympathetic innervation to the eye. The damage may have numerous causes and may occur anywhere along the course of the nerve's route from the brain to the eye. Thus Horner's syndrome may be associated with anything from brain tumors; spinal cord injury in the neck; thoracic tumors such as lymphosarcoma or thyroid tumors; injuries to the neck from fighting or trying to draw blood; middle ear infections; and nerve abnormalities caused by viral, immune-mediated or other causes.”
End quote

Yes, bpi can affect the eye and also the foot on the side of the bpi injury. I attended Dr. Nath's, of the Texas Nerve and Paralysis Institute, lecture last month when he was in town. I believe Dr. Nath covers this on his website.