What is the process called when the ciliary muscles of the eye adjust the lens curvature to focus images on the retina?

The process by which the ciliary muscles adjust the curvature of the lens to focus images on the retina is known as accommodation. This mechanism plays a crucial role in vision, allowing the eye to focus on objects at varying distances. When viewing something up close, the ciliary muscles contract, making the lens more rounded, which increases its optical power and brings the near image into focus on the retina. Conversely, for distant objects, the ciliary muscles relax, flattening the lens and allowing for a clearer image of further away objects.

Visual acuity refers to the clarity or sharpness of vision, which is related to the focusing ability of the eye but does not specifically describe the adjustment process of the lens. Depth perception involves the ability to perceive the distance and three-dimensionality of objects, which is a separate concept from the focusing mechanism of the lens. Convergence refers to the inward movement of both eyes toward each other to maintain single binocular vision when looking at a close object, which is distinct from accommodation. Thus, accommodation specifically describes the lens adjustment process critical for clear vision.