United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Can anyone tell me why some bpi specialists that I have a telephone consulation with ask if the eye on my daughters affected side is smaller? does this have something to do with degree of injury?

It is called Horners Syndrome. Some babies born with BPI also have Horners Syndrom. The pupil doesn't dialate the same and the eyelid is sometimes droopy. My daughter Allison has Horners syndrome. Her pupil is smaller on the right side. When she was born she wouldn't open her right eye. As time went bye she started to open it more and more. People say now that they don't notice her eye being droopy.

Good Luck
Melissa

yes, they are looking for evidence that your daughter may have an associated condition called Horners Syndrome/sign which affects the size of the pupil, the ability to open and close the eyelid and also the ability to sweat on the affected cheek.
I believe that Horners sign is usually a sign of a more severe obpi.
My own son has a Horners Sign - it hasn't affected his vision at all ( we have regualr sight checks) and now he is aged 11 years it is only noticeable on VERY rare occasions when he is very tired or unwell.
hope that clears things up a little for you.

Terri,
If you do not notice any differences in the eyes as I did not with Ella...then I was told to check photos. It will "come out more" in any photo. Take a look at your recent pics and see if you can find a difference in the eyes there. When Ella was very very young I did look at our pics and did see a difference in her eyes, but from then until now we have never had any doctor tell us that she had/has Horner's or ptosis. I see no difference in Ella's eyes today. Hope this helps.
Krista

I do notice a small difference in her eyes. I haven't noticed anything with the pupil but i have noticed a droppy eye on occasion. her neurologist initially noiticed it, then he looked at me and said i may have it and it may be genetic. now i am wondering. we went on vacation last week and i noticed it more (nap schedule way off). if it is horners, will she have any long term affects from it?
thanks for your help
terri

Go to see a eye specialist in Children's Hospital. They can check on the pupils and determine whether it is Horner's Syndrom. With this syndrome, some may have problem driving in the dark.
Good luck.

I have Horner's, with the droopy eye, sweat gland problem, etc., but there are a few other things to think about:

(1) because the pupil in the affected eye doesn't dialate as much, make sure your child's medical records reflect the condition. My mother was always concerned that I'd go the the hospital with a minor bump on the head and the doctors would think I had a major injury because of a "blown" pupil.

(2) I had a severe astigmatism in the affected eye, and a 50% loss of depth perception. It was corrected with glass as a kid, and Lasiks surgery in my 20s. The eye doctor said they weren't necessarily related to Horners, but it seems reasonable to me that it would have been.

Carolyn Young

just got back from the opthalmologist and she doesnt have horners syndrome. just a hereditary droppy eye (mild) like me...just about the only thing she inherited from me! thanks for the information everyone.