Final answer:
Contact lenses focus light primarily through the process of refraction, which involves the bending of light rays as they pass from one medium to another, such as from air into the material of the contact lens.
Step-by-step explanation:
Contact lenses can focus light due to the refraction of the waves. The term refraction refers to the bending of light waves, which occurs when a light wave passes from one medium to another with a different density. This phenomenon is critical in the design of lenses, including contact lenses, because it allows them to redirect light and form images on the retina. When light enters a transparent medium like a contact lens, it is bent either away or toward the line perpendicular to the boundary surface. This bending, or refraction, changes the light path and brings objects into focus for the wearer. The other options provided, such as absorption, reflection, and diffraction, are also interactions of light with matter, but they do not describe the primary function of contact lenses in focusing light. When light passes through the curved surface of a lens, it undergoes refraction, which enables the lens to focus the incoming light rays onto a specific point, allowing clear vision. Without this refraction, images would not be focused properly, leading to blurry vision.