Which term refers to the eye's ability to adjust focus by changing lens shape?

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Multiple Choice

Which term refers to the eye's ability to adjust focus by changing lens shape?

Explanation:
The eye’s ability to adjust focus by changing the lens shape is called accommodation. When you focus on something near, the ciliary muscles contract, making the lens more curved and thicker to increase its refractive power so light focuses on the retina. For distant objects, the muscles relax and the lens flattens to decrease its power. The other terms refer to different parts or fluids of the eye—vitreous is the gel behind the lens, aqueous humor is the watery fluid in the front chamber, and the retinal pigment epithelium is a support layer for the retina—not mechanisms for changing focus.

The eye’s ability to adjust focus by changing the lens shape is called accommodation. When you focus on something near, the ciliary muscles contract, making the lens more curved and thicker to increase its refractive power so light focuses on the retina. For distant objects, the muscles relax and the lens flattens to decrease its power. The other terms refer to different parts or fluids of the eye—vitreous is the gel behind the lens, aqueous humor is the watery fluid in the front chamber, and the retinal pigment epithelium is a support layer for the retina—not mechanisms for changing focus.