What is the purpose of the accommodation reflex?

The accommodation reflex plays a crucial role in vision by enabling the eyes to adjust their focus when viewing objects at varying distances. This reflex involves changes in the shape of the lens of the eye, which is controlled by the ciliary muscles. When you look at something close, the ciliary muscles contract, allowing the lens to become more rounded for better focus on nearby objects. Conversely, when focusing on distant objects, these muscles relax, flattening the lens for clearer distant vision. Thus, the accommodation reflex is essential for maintaining visual clarity across different viewing distances, facilitating activities such as reading, driving, or any task that requires dynamic focus adjustments.