Focusing Light and Eye Accommodation
The eye's ability to focus light and adjust to different viewing distances is crucial for clear vision. The cornea, lens, and pupil work together to refract light and create a sharp image on the retina.
Definition: Refraction is the bending of light as it passes through different mediums, such as the cornea and lens of the eye.
The focus of light in the eye occurs through two main structures:
- The cornea at the front of the eye
- The lens behind the pupil
These structures refract light as it enters the eye, directing it towards the retina.
Highlight: The eye's ability to focus on objects at different distances is called accommodation.
The eye accommodation process involves changing the shape of the lens:
- For distant objects: The ciliary muscles relax, causing the suspensory ligaments to tighten. This makes the lens long and thin, resulting in less refraction.
- For near objects: The ciliary muscles contract, causing the suspensory ligaments to loosen. This makes the lens short and fat, increasing refraction.
Example: When reading a book up close, your eye's lens becomes more rounded to focus the light from the nearby text onto your retina.