What role does the lens play in the eye?

The lens plays a crucial role in the eye by adjusting focus for clear vision. This ability to change shape, known as accommodation, allows the lens to focus on objects at various distances. When viewing something close, the ciliary muscles contract, causing the lens to become thicker, which increases its refractive power. Conversely, when looking at distant objects, the ciliary muscles relax, and the lens becomes flatter. This dynamic adjustment ensures that light rays are properly focused onto the retina, allowing for sharp and clear images.

Other options involve different functions in the eye that are managed by distinct structures. Maintaining intraocular pressure is primarily the responsibility of the aqueous humor and the structures involved in its production and drainage. Protecting the retina from light is achieved by the retinal pigment epithelium and layers of the retina, while regulation of the amount of light entering the eye is managed by the iris and the pupil, not the lens. Thus, while these functions are important, they are not roles played by the lens.