Johann Friedrich Horner (1831 – 1886) was an Swiss ophthalmologist.
Foremost clinical teacher relating diseases of the eye to other disorders of the body
Competent eye surgeon performing over 2000 cataract operations with reduced complication rate following his introduction of aseptic techniques. Performed the first Z-plasty for correction of ectropion (1837)
Horner syndrome, was so named following his 1869 description of the condition. Identified sex linked transmission for red-green colour blindness
Biography
- Born in Zurich 27th March 1831
- 1854 – Graduated Medical school – University of Zurich
- 1855 – Studied the use of the ophthalmoscope in Vienna with Eduard Jaeger Ritter von Jaxtthal
- 1856 – Became assistant to Albrecht von Graefe furthering ophthalmology studies
- 1856 – Founded the University of Zurich ophthalmology clinic which then became an independent clinic the ‘Hottinghof’
- 1867 – Introduced regular examinations of the eyes of schoolchildren
- 1862 – Named Professor of Ophthalmology
- 1876 – Horner established that “a man with a red-green colour blindness transmitted this anomaly to his male grandchildren through his daughter who was not colour blind (sex linked transmission)
- Died in Zurich 20th December 1886 aged 55
Key Medical Attributions:
- Horner syndrome (1869) classic triad of ipsilateral ptosis, miosis and anhidrosis (+/- enophthalmos)
- Horner muscle – lacrimal portion of the orbicularis oculi muscle (tensor tarsi muscle)
- Horner-Trantas spots – punctiform yellow-white calcified concretions of the conjunctiva around the corneal limbus associated with vernal keratoconjunctivitis
Major Publications
- Horner JF. Über eine Form von Ptosis. Klinische Monatsblätter für Augenheilkunde 1869;7:193-198 [Horner syndrome]
- Horner, JF. On spectacles: their history and uses. 1887. The Society for the Prevention of Blindness.
- Horner, JF. Die Krankheiten des Auges im Kindesalter. (The diseases of the eye in childhood) 1882.
- Horner, JF. Beiträge zur Ophthalmologie als Festgabe Friedrich Horner: zur Feier des fünfundzwanzigjährigen Jubiläums seiner academischen Lehrthätigkeit gewidmet. (Contributions to ophthalmology Friedrich Horner:25 year anniversary) 1881
- Horner, JF. Ein Lebensbild geschrieben von ihm selbst. (Friedrich Horner autobiography) 1887.
References
- Shinohara, H. The anatomy of the lacrimal portion of the orbicularis oculi muscle (tensor tarsi or Horner’s muscle). Okajimas Folia Anat Jpn. 2001 Mar;77(6):225-32 [PMID 11392011]
- Borges, AF. The original Z-plasty. British Journal of Plastic Surgery. 26 (3): 237–246.[JPRAS 1973]
- Koczman, J. Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis. uiowa Eye Rounds 2007. [Internet Archive]
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