TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Chapter 30. Disorders of the Lens A1 - Lueder, Gregg T. Y1 - 2011 N1 - T2 - Pediatric Practice: Ophthalmology AB - The lens is the normally clear structure that is located just posterior to the iris. The primary function of the lens is to focus light rays on the retina. The lens is attached to the ciliary body by zonules. These zonules produce tension in response to contraction of the ciliary muscle. The ciliary muscle is circular, so that when it contracts its diameter becomes smaller (Figure 30–1). This decreases the tension on the lens zonules, and the lens becomes more spherical. This is known as accommodation, which is what allows the eye to focus at near. As people age, the lens becomes progressively stiffer. Because of this, the ability to focus at near gradually deteriorates, to the point that almost all people require reading glasses during the fourth decade of life. SN - PB - The McGraw-Hill Companies CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/04/19 UR - accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=56151785 ER -