Ocular manifestations after upper dorsal sympathectomy

Fifty patients underwent ophthalmologic examination before and after bilateral upper dorsal sympathectomy performed for palmar hyperhidrosis. Postoperative examination was done during the first week, at 3 to 4 weeks and at 6 to 12 months after the operation. Immediately after surgery there were 18 patients with ptosis (6 severe) and 23 with miosis (12 severe). There were 19 patients with excessive lacrimation and some degree of congestion of conjunctival blood vessels was present in almost all patients. Uniocular decrease in tears was present in 2 patients. Most of these manifestations decreased with passage of time. At one year there remained only 3 patients with severe ptosis and 4 with severe miosis. The results suggest that the classical anatomic explanation of Horner's syndrome may require some modification.