What does the term "accommodation" refer to in the context of vision?

The term "accommodation" in the context of vision specifically refers to the adjustment of the lens for near vision. When a person looks at something close, the ciliary muscles contract, which causes the lens to become thicker and more rounded, enhancing its ability to refract light and focus on nearby objects. This process is crucial for clear vision at varying distances and highlights the dynamic capability of the eye to adapt to different visual demands.

The other options, while related to aspects of vision, do not accurately describe accommodation. Focusing on distant objects pertains to the eye's ability to see far away but doesn't involve the physiological changes that accommodation encompasses. The relaxation of eye muscles is part of the process but does not fully describe the specific action of the lens adapting for near vision. Clarity of peripheral vision refers to how well one can see objects in the side vision, which is unrelated to the concept of accommodation.