Growth Hormone and Developmental Ocular Function: Clinical and Basic Studies

While growth hormone (GH) is obligatory for postnatal growth, its possible involvement in ocular development and vision is poorly understood. The eye is, however, a target site for GH action and GH production and GH may have endocrine, autocrine and/or paracrine roles in ocular development. The importance of GH in ocular development is demonstrated by the ocular abnormalities that can occur in patients with pituitary GH excess or GH deficiency. Clinical and basic studies supporting roles for GH in ocular development are the focus of this brief review.