Final answer:
The bending of light rays by the lens to focus on the retina is known as refraction. This focusing ability can diminish with age, leading to presbyopia, whereas myopia results from an elongated eyeball.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ability of the lens to bend light rays so that they focus on the retina is known as refraction. The lens of the eye is flexible and operated by surrounding muscles, allowing it to change shape to focus light sharply on the retina, which is necessary for producing clear images of both near and far objects. However, as we age, the lens loses its flexibility, leading to conditions such as presbyopia, where the lens can no longer focus on nearby objects, causing them to appear blurry. On the other hand, myopia (nearsightedness) occurs when an elongated eyeball causes the focal point to fall in front of the retina, making distant objects appear blurry.