Final answer:
Relaxed vision refers to the focusing of an image directly on the retina when viewing distant objects with accommodation relaxed, while accommodation occurs for nearby objects requiring a more powerful and thicker lens.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the eye is viewing very distant objects, the focusing of an image directly on the retina while the accommodation is relaxed is known as 'totally relaxed' or just 'relaxed' vision. During relaxed vision, the ciliary muscles are not contracted, allowing the lens of the eye to flatten and be at its least powerful state. This mechanism is necessary for the light rays, which are nearly parallel when they come from distant objects, to converge properly on the retina. In contrast, when viewing objects that are close to the eye, a process called 'accommodation' occurs. Here, the ciliary muscles contract, making the lens thicker and more powerful to focus the diverging light rays from the nearby object onto the retina. The closest point at which an object can be in focus during full accommodation is termed the 'near point'.