Refractive evaluation in children with growth defect.
OBJECTIVE
Growth hormone (GH) is considered essential for postnatal somatic growth, exerting its effects on growth by hepatic production of IGF-I. IGF and other growth factors interact with the developing ocular tissues by influencing the synthesis of the extracellular matrix of the sclera and by inducing angiogenesis. The association between optic nerve hypoplasia, reduced retinal vascularization and GH deficiency (GHD) is well known. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the possible influence of congenital GHD on the refraction and on the emmetropization process.


METHODS
Eighty children with congenital GHD had a thorough ophthalmologic examination, including cycloplegic refraction and axial length measurement. As a control group we enrolled 483 healthy children.


RESULTS
In accordance with other epidemiological studies, the control group showed a slightly myopic mean defect; on the contrary, in GHD group we found a hyperopic defect, related to a shorter axial length, with statistically significant differences.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings emphasise the possible role of growth hormone in ocular development, and its interaction with the physiological process of emmetropization.
Parentin
Fulvio
F
Department of Ophthalmology, Children's Hospital Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy. parentin@burlo.trieste.it
Tonini
Giorgio
G
Perissutti
Paolo
P
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D005123:Eye / Q000254:growth & development; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000151:congenital* / Q000188:drug therapy; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006956:Hyperopia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D012029:Refraction, Ocular
D019382:Human Growth Hormone