What part of the eye is responsible for focusing light onto the retina?

The lens of the eye plays a crucial role in focusing light onto the retina. It is a transparent, flexible structure located behind the iris and the pupil. When light enters the eye, it first passes through the cornea, which provides initial refraction. However, the lens fine-tunes the focus by changing its shape through a process called accommodation. This capability allows us to see objects clearly at various distances; for instance, the lens becomes thicker to focus on nearby objects and thinner for distant ones.

The retina, located at the back of the eye, contains photoreceptor cells that convert light into neural signals, which are transmitted to the brain, enabling vision. Therefore, the lens is key in ensuring that the light rays converge precisely on the retina for clear image formation.