Accommodation

Definition

Accommodation is the process by which the eye's lens changes shape to focus on objects at various distances. This adjustment is controlled by the ciliary muscles.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Accommodation allows the eye to maintain a clear image or focus on an object as its distance varies.
2. The ciliary muscles contract to thicken the lens for near vision and relax to thin the lens for distant vision.
3. Presbyopia is a condition where accommodation ability decreases with age, making it difficult to see close objects clearly.
4. The range of accommodation can be measured using techniques such as the push-up test or using an optometer.
5. Accommodation involves both optical and neural processes, including feedback mechanisms from the brain.

Review Questions

• What role do the ciliary muscles play in accommodation?
• How does presbyopia affect accommodation?
• What are some methods used to measure the range of accommodation?

Related terms

Ciliary Muscles:

Muscles that control the shape of the lens in the eye, aiding in focusing on near or distant objects.

Presbyopia:

Age-related condition where the eye's lens loses flexibility, impairing close-up vision.

Optometer: An instrument used to measure the refractive power and range of accommodation of the eyes.