Johann Friedrich Horner

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 (1850–1931).

Horner's syndrome, a disorder of the sympathetic nervous system, 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".[1] With Alexios Trantas (1867–1960), the "Horner-Trantas spots" are named, being defined as small whitish-yellow chalky concretions of the conjunctiva around the corneal limbus[2]

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 for correction of ectropion.[3]

• Whonamedit.com entry on Horner URL accessed 27 Feb 2006
• van der Wiel HL. (May 2002). "Johann Friedrich Horner". J. Neurol. 249 (5): 636–7. doi:10.1007/s004150200079. PMID 12021960.

• Works by or about Johann Friedrich Horner at Internet Archive
• "MRC Ophth Ophthalmology Hall of Fame".