Transcription factor that controls lens epithelial cell growth through regulation of proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle (PubMed:22527307, PubMed:25504734). During lens development, controls the ratio of the lens fiber cells to the cells of the anterior lens epithelium by regulating the rate of proliferation and differentiation (By similarity). Controls lens vesicle closure and subsequent separation of the lens vesicle from ectoderm (By similarity). Controls the expression of DNAJB1 in a pathway that is crucial for the development of the anterior segment of the eye (PubMed:27218149). {ECO:0000250|UniProtKB:Q9QY14, ECO:0000269|PubMed:22527307, ECO:0000269|PubMed:25504734, ECO:0000269|PubMed:27218149}. This is the function of Ensembl gene identifier ENSG00000186790 (FOXE3, forkhead box E3).