The ciliary muscles are involved in which function?

The ciliary muscles are primarily responsible for changing the shape of the lens in the eye, which is crucial for focusing on objects at varying distances. When these muscles contract, they decrease the tension on the zonules (the fibers that hold the lens in place), allowing the lens to become more rounded. This increased curvature enhances the eye's ability to focus on nearby objects. Conversely, when the ciliary muscles relax, the tension on the zonules increases, causing the lens to flatten for better focus on distant objects.

Understanding the role of ciliary muscles is essential in appreciating how the eye adapts to different visual tasks, emphasizing their significance in the process of accommodation.